question for military families

[sorteep]

I was just having this discussion with DH,, what is the military's policy if you are active duty and get PG?? do you get mat leave and how long for BF (if at all!!?) just curious.. anyone know?

Laura

[wwisdomskr]

Depends on your position and job and CO, really. The Navy will defer deployment for 12 months, but the Marines only 6. That's not actual leave time though.

I've had a steep learning curve...dh is always having to remind me that service members don't have a lot of the same "rights" as civilians.

I'm pretty sure it's only a max of 6 weeks off and that's only if your job is not "essential" to operations.

Someone please correct me...

[Kontessa]

It is my understanding, and know I am just a wife, that the female pregnant soldier gets 6 weeks of leave and after that can be deployed at any time. The male soldier tends to get two weeks of leave. Or if he is deployed and the wife is home... none. UNLESS he is lucky and get his 2 weeks of leave per-deployment right around the time the mama is due. Sad for us, we got pregnant on my husbands 2 weeks home and then he got further extended and so he will be home months after baby is born. If something life threatening should happen to baby or I, they MIGHT lt hubby come home for a short time.

[sorteep]

wowwwwwww, so much for supporting BF ???? yikes! but I suppose it *might* be used as an "excuse" not to get sent over?? like, if you did not want to go "just" get PG and play the BF card?? maybe that is what they are trying to avoid?? poor babies, poor mommies... (daddies too, of course...)

[Googy]

There was actually a discussion on this very topic on the Lactivism board recently--check it out!
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=698407

[scheelimama]

I've heard that the Army will defer deployment for 6 months. I don't know how much maternity leave you get, I doubt much. But you can get out of the military due to pregnancy if you wish. You don't have to wait for your contract to be up.

[sorteep]

great info.. thanks for link Googy... I like knowing "things" you know?