{"id":31642,"date":"2018-01-24T21:14:27","date_gmt":"2018-01-24T21:14:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/01\/24\/dod-paternity-leave-policy-still-up-in-the-air\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:37:35","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:37:35","slug":"dod-paternity-leave-policy-still-up-in-the-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/your-army\/2018\/01\/24\/dod-paternity-leave-policy-still-up-in-the-air\/","title":{"rendered":"Paternity leave policy for service members still up in the air"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Navy\u2019s chief of personnel told sailors in Japan last week<\/a> that he\u2019d like to see the service increase paternity leave for new fathers from the current standard of 10 days to as many as 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Navy officials have no timeline, however, for when the changes would be implemented, as discussions on the matter continue with Department of Defense. As it stands, things appear to be at odds over how much leave should be authorized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2016, DoD asked Congress to approve an increase of paternity leave from 10 to 14 days. But in the law, which went into effect with the 2017 defense budget, Congress set the maximum number of allotted days at 21. For individual services to be able to put their own new policy in place, DoD must first set the standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think there\u2019s going to be dialog…about that \u2014 we think that 14 days is about the right time,\u201d said Command Sergeant Major John Troxell, senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a Jan. 23 roundtable of Military Times reporters and editors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Navy wanted 21 days(in the 2016 original discussions) and some of the other services wanted seven days. If the law is 21 days, we\u2019re not going circumvent the law, but there\u2019s going to be a dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\t