1) 3 months (4 Unit Training Assemblies (UTA) each) of paid leave from drill for postpartum Soldiers; and 2) 1 month (4 UTA) for secondary caregivers, to include attendance points on their Retirement Point Statement.

The Army’s management of pregnant and postpartum Soldiers (PPS) does not meet today’s needs of National Guard Soldiers and Families; this impacts some of the most complex internal issues facing personnel management such as retention, talent management, equal opportunity and full integration of women throughout the military. We believe the most significant hardships come from second‐order effects of outdated regulations and gaps in leader understanding.

We lack a paid parental leave for the MDAY force. We should have A) 3 months (4 Unit Training Assemblies (UTA) each) of paid leave from drill for postpartum Soldiers; and B) 1 month (4 UTA) for secondary caregivers, to include credit on their Retirement Point Statement.

This requires updating 1) Army Directive 2019‐05, ARMY MILITARY PARENTAL LEAVE PROGRAM and 2) Army Regulation 135‐91, SERVICE OBLIGATIONS, METHODS OF FULFILLMENT, PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS, AND ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES.

These regulations have lasting impacts on our Soldiers and their Families, such as reduced retention, readiness and commitment to the organization.