Department of Defense Expands Military Parental Leave Program | North Carolina Governor's Working Group [NCGWG]

The Department of Defense has announced the expansion of its Military Parental Leave Program (MPLP).

The expansion specifically provides parental leave to active and reserve component service members (on active duty for twelve months or more) who have given birth, adopted a child or had a child placed for adoption or long-term foster care with them. Birth parents will be granted twelve weeks of parental leave following a period of convalescent leave, and non-birth parents will be granted twelve weeks of leave following the birth of their child.

Adoptive parents and eligible foster parents will also be granted twelve weeks of parental leave. The MPLP is designed to allow members to care for their children while balancing the needs of their unit.