MARADMIN 051/23 - Expansion of the Marine Corps Military Parental Leave Program

Scope

MARADMIN 051/23 announces the expansion of the Military Parental Leave Program (MPLP) as directed by OSD and DON. Authorized parental leave expands to 12 weeks (84 days) for parents following childbirth, qualifying adoption of a minor child, or placement of a minor child for adoption or long-term foster care. Primary and Secondary Caregiver designations are eliminated. The parental leave period is the same for all Marines. Maternity Convalescent Leave standardized at six weeks is removed. Marines who give birth remain eligible for convalescent leave when medically recommended. The MARADMIN modifies previous parental leave policy and supersedes prior parental leave MARADMINs. Effective immediately for qualifying events on or after 2022-12-27.

Audience

• Marines on Active Duty. 12 weeks parental leave applies. Birth parent receives convalescent leave plus 12 weeks parental leave.
• Marines on Active Reserve. 12 weeks parental leave applies through paragraph 8 conditions.
• Reserve Component Marines on active duty for over 12 consecutive months. Eligible.
• Commanders with leave approving authority. Grant parental leave under the new framework. Approve convalescent leave when medically recommended in writing.
• S-1 staff and admin. Track parental leave through MOL under "PTAD, Parental Leave" code.

Key changes

• 12 weeks parental leave for the birth parent following convalescent leave. 1-year period beginning on date of birth.
• 12 weeks parental leave for the non-birth parent. 1-year period beginning on date of birth. Parentage must first be established.
• 12 weeks parental leave for qualifying adoption or placement for adoption. 1-year period.
• 12 weeks parental leave for placement for long-term foster care. 1-year period.
• Primary and Secondary Caregiver designations eliminated.
• Maternity Convalescent Leave standardized at six weeks removed. Convalescent leave continues when medically recommended in writing by the birth parent healthcare provider.

Leave structure

• Parental leave in one continuous period or in increments consistent with operational requirements.
• Combinable with annual leave and other special leave and liberty.
• Increments. Minimum 7 days per increment, maximum 12 increments.
• Deployed Marines defer parental leave until deployment completes. Commander has discretion to approve while deployed if unit readiness is not adversely impacted.

Extension conditions (1-year period)

The 1-year window extends day-for-day when the Marine experiences any of the following.

• Deployment or military exercise for 90+ consecutive days within the 1-year period.
• In-residence Professional Military Education for 90+ consecutive days.
• PCS with TDY en route of 90+ consecutive days interfering with leave.
• Routine TDY for 90+ consecutive days.
• Service in a billet identified as critical by the commander for 90+ consecutive days.
• Hospitalization or in-patient status for 90+ consecutive days.

Multiple qualifying events

• Events within the same 72-hour period count as a single event for leave allocation.
• Events outside the 72-hour window count as separate events. Any new parental leave runs concurrently with pre-existing unused parental leave.

Limitations

• Marines who place their own child up for adoption or have parental rights terminated are not eligible for parental leave but rate convalescent leave when medically recommended.
• Stillbirth or miscarriage. Convalescent leave applies when medically recommended. Neither parent rates parental leave. Emergency leave is available.
• Death of a child during parental leave terminates the leave. Other leave types apply (convalescent, emergency, or appropriate type).

Transition rules from PCL or SCL

• Marines with unused Primary Caregiver Leave (PCL) or Secondary Caregiver Leave (SCL) or Maternity Convalescent Leave (MCL) as of 2022-12-27 transition under this MARADMIN, provided the unused leave was authorized under MCO 5000.12F CH-1 and the Marine was in execution or had not started PCL, SCL, or MCL on the same date.
• Combined PCL or SCL plus parental leave does not exceed 12 weeks total.
• Birth parent in maternity convalescent status as of 2022-12-27 completes the approved MCL period and then receives 12 weeks parental leave.

Self-certification and tracking

• Commanders accept self-certification of a qualifying event for parental leave approval.
• Birth or adoption. Marine adds the dependent in MCTFS within 30 days. Failure converts parental leave to annual leave.
• Long-term foster care. Marine provides contractual agreement within 30 days. Command retains the agreement.
• Tracking system. Marines submit all parental leave requests under "PTAD, Parental Leave" in MOL. Marines who give birth use "Leave, Convalescent Leave" following birth.
• Commands locally track parental leave eligibility and execution until MOL implements a permanent code.

Action items

1. Commanders confirm Marines submit parental leave requests under the PTAD code in MOL within established command leave procedures.
2. Track each qualifying event date. The 1-year window starts from the qualifying event date.
3. Track combined PCL or SCL plus parental leave so total does not exceed 12 weeks.
4. Confirm dependent enrollment in MCTFS and DEERS within 30 days of birth or adoption.
5. Document long-term foster care contractual agreements within 30 days.
6. Commanders considering RC Marine eligibility for Reserve Component Maternity Leave route through MARADMIN 523/22 framework.

Connection to higher policy

• USD(P&R) Directive-Type Memorandum dated 2023-01-04. Expansion of the Military Parental Leave Program.
• Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) Memorandum dated 2023-01-17. DON Guidance for Expansion of the Military Parental Leave Program.

Connection to Marine Corps doctrine

• MCO 5000.12F w/CH-1. Marine Corps Policy Concerning Parenthood and Pregnancy.
• MCO 1050.3J. Regulations for Leave, Liberty, and Administrative Absence.
• MARADMIN 523/22. Forthcoming Changes to Reserve Component Parental Leave.
• MARADMIN 129/23. Clarification to MARADMIN 051/23.
• MARADMIN 191/26. Changes to Reserve Component Maternity Leave (RCML) and Reserve Component Parental Leave (RCPL). Successor framework.

Status

Released 2023-01-30, DTG R 272030Z JAN 23. Originator CMC Washington DC MRA MP. Release authorized by Lieutenant General James F. Glynn, Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Applicability is every Active Component Marine and Reserve Component Marines on active duty for over 12 consecutive months. POC MRA MPO at MPO@usmc.mil, 703-784-9360. Active until folded into the next revision of MCO 1050.3J and MCO 5000.12F.