{"id":24907,"date":"2022-03-16T22:12:20","date_gmt":"2022-03-16T22:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2022\/03\/16\/its-now-easier-for-new-parents-to-leave-air-force-space-force\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:36:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:36:36","slug":"its-now-easier-for-new-parents-to-leave-air-force-space-force","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2022\/03\/16\/its-now-easier-for-new-parents-to-leave-air-force-space-force\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s now easier for new parents to leave Air Force, Space Force"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dual-military couples in the Department of the Air Force now have more flexibility to decide their next steps after childbirth or adoption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For couples in which one active duty airman or guardian is married to another, the military is offering either person up to a year after their child arrives to ask to leave the Air Force or Space Force. The new policy began March 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Only one member of the couple<\/a> can request separation for pregnancy, childbirth or caregiving reasons, while the other must fulfill his or her service commitment. They can still apply to get out based on other voluntary issues like hardship, the Air Force said in a March 8 press release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCaregiver separation and childbirth separation give both parents more time to learn how to balance family and career, allowing them to continue to contribute to the [Department of the Air Force] mission before making a decision to separate,\u201d the release added.<\/p>\n\n\n\t