recruiting/ paternity leave

Pauline - posted on 11/05/2009

thank you guys so much for the understanding and support..
We did fought it, and instead of the paternity leave, the station commander is willing to give him 3 "4-day weekends" whenever he wants to use it.. So I guess that was nice... wasn't what we hoped for, but it is better then nothing.. The station commander made the command that the rules and regulations (benefits) only were for people that give their full 150% to make the missions every month.. :S For one .. my husband is trying to do his best, maybe not his full 100% but he thinks this whole recruiting BS stinks, and for two he doesn't have the personality for being a recruiter... He refuses to make this job his priority instead for his family, he will do his job to the best of his ability, but thats pretty much it.. And I guess that people that are only out to make them self smell like roses and think their shit don't stink, are not happy with that... But anyhow ( another one off those days, sorry ladies... not having my day), like I said, thank you for your support and maybe talk to you guys later...

Danielle - posted on 10/29/2009

Hi, I am in the military and at Ft Riley, KS. There was a message put out from DA that allows him to take 10 days Paterniy leave I have attached it below. I hope this helps in your fight.





ALARACT 062/2009 ARMY GUIDANCE FOR PATERNITY LEAVE AUTH BY DUNCAN HUNTER NATL DEF AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 (PUB L. 110-417), DTG 101547Z MAR 09. This message announces Army guidance for paternity leave authorized by the recent change to law (Title 10) contained in the 2009 NDAA. On 14 Oct 08 the President signed the NDAA for FY 09 to authorize 10 days of paternity leave to be used in connection with the birth of a child. Paternity leave may be granted in addition to other leave authorized. See the message for specific policy.





R 101547Z MAR 09

FM PTC WASHINGTON DC//ALARACT//

TO ALARACT

ZEN/RMY/OU=ORGANIZATIONS/OU=ADDRESS LISTS/CN=AL ALARACT(UC) BT UNCLAS QQQQ

SUBJ: ALARACT 062/2009 - ARMY GUIDANCE FOR PATERNITY LEAVE AUTH BY DU NCAN HUNTER NATL DEF AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 UNCLASSIFIED// THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN SENT BY THE PENTAGON TELECOMMUNICATIONS CENTER ON BEHALF OF DA WASHINGTON DC//DAPE-PR//



SUBJ: ARMY GUIDANCE FOR PATERNITY LEAVE AUTH BY DUNCAN HUNTER NATL DEF AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 (PUB L. 110-417)



1. REFERENCES:

A. DUNCAN HUNTER NDAA FOR FY 2009, (PUB L. 110-417), 14 OCTOBER 2008

B. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTION 1327.6, LEAVE AND LIBERTY PROCEDURES, APRIL 22, 2005

C. AR 600-8-10, LEAVES AND PASSES, 15 FEBRUARY 2006

D. TITLE 10, UNITED STATES CODE (USC)

2. EXPIRATION: CANNOT BE DETERMINED.

3. PURPOSE: THIS MESSAGE ANNOUNCES ARMY GUIDANCE FOR PATERNITY LEAVE AUTHORIZED BY THE RECENT CHANGE TO LAW (TITLE 10) CONTAINED IN REFERENCE A ABOVE. ON 14 OCTOBER 2008 THE PRESIDENT SIGNED THE NDAA FOR FY 2009 TO AUTHORIZE 10 DAYS OF PATERNITY LEAVE TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE BIRTH OF A CHILD. PATERNITY LEAVE MAY BE GRANTED IN ADDITION TO OTHER LEAVE AUTHORIZED.

4. APPLICABILITY: PATERNITY LEAVE IS ONLY AUTHORIZED FOR A MARRIED SOLDIER ON ACTIVE DUTY, TO INCLUDE TITLE 10 AND TITLE 32 ACTIVE GUARD AND RESERVE (AGR) DUTY, WHOSE WIFE GIVES BIRTH TO A CHILD ON OR AFTER 14 OCTOBER 2008. PATERNITY LEAVE IS A NON-CHARGEABLE ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE. PATERNITY LEAVE LEGISLATION CANNOT BE APPLIED TO SINGLE SOLDIERS FATHERING A CHILD OUT OF WEDLOCK.

5. PATERNITY LEAVE WILL NOT EXCEED 10 DAYS, AND MUST BE TAKEN CONSECUTIVELY AND WITHIN 45 DAYS AFTER THE BIRTH OF THE CHILD. THIS AUTHORIZED ABSENCE (NON-CHARGEABLE PATERNITY LEAVE) IS APPLICABLE TO SINGLE PREGNANCIES, TO INCLUDE THOSE THAT RESULT IN MULTIPLE BIRTHS (TWINS, TRIPLETS, ETC.). DEPLOYED SOLDIERS HAVE 60 DAYS AFTER RETURNING FROM DEPLOYMENT TO UTILIZE THE 10 DAYS OF PATERNITY LEAVE. IF NOT USED WITHIN THE ESTABLISHED TIME FRAME LEAVE IS LOST.

6. COMMANDERS, SUPERVISORS AND LEAVE APPROVAL AUTHORITIES MUST ENSURE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IS INCLUDED IN BLOCK 17 (REMARKS) ON THE DA FORM 31 (REQUEST AND AUTHORITY FOR LEAVE) FOR ACTIVE DUTY MARRIED SOLDIERS REQUESTING LEAVE IN CONNECTION WITH THE BIRTH OF A CHILD. “I AM REQUESTING PATERNITY LEAVE IN CONNECTION WITH THE BIRTH OF MY CHILD. I UNDERSTAND THAT BY LAW PATERNITY LEAVE IS ONLY AUTHORIZED FOR MARRIED SOLDIERS ON ACTIVE DUTY, WHOSE WIFE HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO A CHILD ON OR AFTER 14 OCTOBER 2008. __________ SOLDIER’S INITIALS”

7. SOLDIERS CHARGED ANNUAL LEAVE IN CONNECTION WITH THE BIRTH OF THEIR CHILD AFTER 14 OCTOBER 2008, BUT BEFORE THIS ARMY GUIDANCE WAS RELEASED MAY REQUEST THAT THE 10 DAYS OF ANNUAL LEAVE BE RESTORED/RE-CREDITED TO THEIR LEAVE ACCOUNT. WHEN REQUESTING REINSTATEMENT OF 10 DAYS PATERNITY LEAVE, A SOLDIER MUST PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION (E.G. DA FORM 31 OR LEAVE AND EARNING STATEMENT (LES) SHOWING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN CHARGED 10 DAYS LEAVE DUE TO THE BIRTH OF THEIR CHILD. THE SOLDIER MUST INFORM THE SUPPORTING BATTALION S-1 OR PERSONNEL ADMININISTRATION CENTER (PAC) TO CORRECT THE ORIGINAL DA FORM 31, PER CHAPTER 12 OF AR 600-8-10, SECTION XIII, TO REFLECT THAT THIS WAS AN APPROVED NON-CHARGEABLE ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. THE DA 31 SHOULD THEN BE SUBMITTED VIA A TRANSMITTAL LETTER TO THE SUPPORTING DEFENSE MILITARY PAY OFFICE (DMPO) TO MAKE THE ADJUSTMENT TO THE SOLDIER?S PAY RECORD.

8. ARMY POLICY GUIDANCE ON PATERNITY LEAVE WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT UPDATE/REVISION OF ARMY REGULATION 600-8-10, LEAVES AND PASSES."

9. THE ARMY STAFF POINTS OF CONTACT ARE MR. BOSKO, DSN 222-5945 OR COMMERCIAL (703) 692-5945, EMAIL IS VICTOR.BOSKO@HQDA.ARMY.MIL, LTC VOITHOFER, DSN 222-6889 OR COMMERCIAL (703) 692-6889, EMAIL IS MATTHEW.VOITHOFER@HQDA.ARMY.MIL.

10. THE ARMY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND FUNCTIONAL PROPONENT IS MS. MCCLELLAND, DSN 221-9005 OR COMMERCIAL (703) 325-9005, EMAIL IS BRENDA.MCCLELLAND@CONUS.ARMY.MIL.

11. EXPIRATION DATE CANNOT BE DETERMINED.

Anne - posted on 10/29/2009

My husband was allowed three days of paternity leave at the time my son was born in July, two of which were spent in the hospital...but he was allowed to take the remaining of them when we took our son on a trip to see our parents in September, this time was "convenient for the command." I think they say it is up to the discretion of the command to give it at the time you want it. It did suck but he had a trial the following week so he couldn't really just not show up! He basically requested leave for the end of September and since we were having the baby baptized and he was meeting his family members he was able to use the remaining paternity leave instead of normal leave.

Julia - posted on 10/29/2009

I was actually going to say that I didn't think that they could deny paternity leave. This is one fight I would have fought! (I was in myself for 7 1/2 yrs so I know about fighting) matter of fact after I gave birth to my first daughter (May 10, 2006) my maternity leave ended a week before block leave. Well I asked permission to take that extra week in between so I wouldn't have to put my daughter into daycare and also so I could take her home to meet the family's! (My family lived in Ohio and my ex's family lived in WA, I was stationed in Hawaii) they denied it and I fought for about a week and a half while on maternity leave to get it done. Sometimes CO's think they have more power than they do. To fight this fight all you had to do was submit the leave form again complete with a print out of the REG. They can't fight that.

Pauline - posted on 10/27/2009

Well its a little bit of a messed up situation..for one, he had still 20 days use or lose left before the end of the physical year.. so like 2 months before the baby was due he put in a request for leave (to use his use or loose) for a week, to help out and get everything ready for baby.. Because I had gestational diabetes, the doctor decided to induce labor in that week (we did not know that until 6 days before the actual date).. CO and 1SGT said because he had that week off he did not need more time off...

anyway, ARMY regulations state they officially cant deny his paternity leave..So Colleen you don't have to worry they will deny your husbands leave.. We just have a company that sucks and in my opinion the people in charge are butt heads that think way to much off themselves.. :p

But in my opinion when you get higher in the ranks, it all comes down to a political game and then you need to think about which fights are worth while.. We have bin in recruiting for almost 2 years now, just one more year to go.. So I guess the best thing is to just sit this one out.. (there is not a hair on our head that is thinking about converting... Way to much crazy stress for us)
And like you said Colleen, its the life we chose, I knew what I was getting myself into when I said "I do" , otherwise I should have said; ' no I don't"
It's not all that bad... Sometimes a girl just needs to vend.. hahaha

Robyn - posted on 10/27/2009

It is hard to be a recruiter's wife. My husband has been doing it for a year now. The job is stressful and there are a lot of long hours and processing Saturdays, but at least he isn't in Iraq ir Afghanistan right now. I'm sorry thhey denied your husband's leave. The same thing happened to us when my husband got sent to the school so he missed the birth of our youngest. Hopefully the time will go fast for you guys ( as long as he doesn't convert)

Colleen - posted on 10/27/2009

I would have to say I am extremely shocked that he was denied paternity leave. How is he performing as a recruiter (not that it should matter IMO); is he making mission every month? My husband has been a recruiter for about 7 months. We are due with #2 in Nov. As far as we know everything is a-okay for him to take paternity leave when the baby comes. Did they give a reason for denying the request?



I am bummed that your husband didn't get paternity leave; it does outright suck! We had a "similar" situation when we had our first. Our first was due a couple weeks after my husband was set to deploy. My hubs CO approved him leaving on deployment right after the baby came. Others didn't agree.... I labored and delivered while my husband was deployed. Oh well, that's the life we chose, I guess! ;)



Congrats on your little bundle of joy!! :D