MARADMIN 191/26 - Changes to Reserve Component Maternity Leave (RCML) and Reserve Component Parental Leave (RCPL)

Scope

MARADMIN 191/26 announces forthcoming changes to MCO 1050.3J Regulations for Leave, Liberty, and Administrative Absence and provides interim implementation guidance for Reserve Component Maternity Leave (RCML) and Reserve Component Parental Leave (RCPL). The MARADMIN aligns with the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act and Department of War initiatives. The MARADMIN consolidates parental leave entitlements from MCO 5000.12F into MCO 1050.3J as the single authoritative source for Marine Corps leave policy. Effective immediately. The MARADMIN supersedes MARADMIN 051/23 and MARADMIN 129/23. Applicability is the Reserve Component.

Audience

• Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) Marines. Eligible for 12 paid IDT periods as RCPL after a qualifying event.
• Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) Program Marines in good standing. Eligible.
• Reserve Marines who experienced a qualifying event between 2024-10-01 and 2025-08-07. Retroactive RCPL eligibility. Use entitlement before 2026-08-06.
• Marines in retired status, Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, Standby Reserve (Active and Inactive Status Lists), or Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Not eligible for RCPL.
• Unsatisfactory participants or Marines not entitled to inactive duty pay. Not eligible.
• First O-5 commander with Special Court-Martial Convening Authority. Approval authority for RCPL extension requests.
• Unit Drill Managers and Muster Managers. Track RCPL and RCML in the Drill Management Module (DMM) of RTAMMS.
• Commanders. Track periods. Ensure Marines do not exceed authorized periods within stipulated timeframes.

RCPL entitlement

• 12 paid Inactive Duty Training (IDT) periods after a qualifying event.
• One RCPL period equals one standard four-hour IDT.
• Maximum two RCPL periods per day.
• Entire benefit used within one year of the qualifying event.

RCPL eligibility

• Member of the Selected Reserve (SMCR or IMA) in good standing.
• Experienced a qualifying event (birth, adoption, placement for adoption, or placement for long-term foster care).
• Provides command-required documentation per MARADMIN 111/23.

Rules for use

• RCPL periods count toward the 48 paid IDTs authorized per fiscal year and contribute to a satisfactory anniversary year.
• Use does not cause the Marine to exceed 48 total paid IDTs in a fiscal year.
• Segmented in minimum two-period (one full drill day) blocks.
• Not used for rescheduled or excused IDT periods.
• Non-transferable. Not shared.

Extension of the one-year usage period

Approval Authority. First O-5 commander with Special Court-Martial Convening Authority in the administrative chain. Qualifying circumstances. 90 or more consecutive days of any of the following.

• Active duty orders.
• In-residence Professional Military Education (PME) course.
• Hospitalization or in-patient care.

Multiple qualifying events

• Separate events (more than 72 hours apart). New 12-period RCPL allocation. The Marine forfeits unused RCPL from the prior event.
• Single event (within 72 hours). One 12-period allocation. Example. A Marine who adopts two children in separate proceedings over a single weekend receives one allocation.

Impact of active duty on RCPL

• Deferment. A Reserve Marine on Active-Duty Operational Support (ADOS) orders defers unused RCPL until ADOS ends. The one-year window extends by the number of months on ADOS.
• New qualifying event on ADOS (30 or more consecutive days). RCPL not used during active duty. The one-year RCPL period begins the day after ADOS orders end.
• Documentation. The command issuing ADOS orders provides the parent Reserve unit with verification of active service to support extension.
• ADPL eligibility. A Reserve Marine performing active duty under orders issued for over 365 consecutive days who meets the criteria in MARADMIN 051/23 is eligible for Active-Duty Parental Leave (ADPL).

Conversion of ADPL to RCPL

• Eligibility. A Marine separating from the Active Component or Active Reserve Program with unused ADPL converts to RCPL if the Marine joins the Selected Reserve within 12 months of separation.
• Usage deadline. Converted RCPL used within one year of the original qualifying event.
• Conversion rate. One RCPL period per seven full days of unused ADPL. Partial weeks do not convert. RCPL count cannot exceed the number of IDT periods reasonably expected within the usage window or remaining service obligation.
• Example. 58 days of unused ADPL equals eight full weeks. Authorized eight RCPL periods provided at least eight IDTs scheduled within the usage window and remaining service obligation.

RCML

• Initial postpartum period. A Reserve Marine approved for RCML will not be scheduled to perform or authorized to request IDT for the first 6 weeks immediately following birth. The 6-week period is the initial convalescent portion of the benefit.
• Entitlement. Up to 6 paid IDT periods as RCML regardless of vaginal or cesarean birth. Used within the 8-week period immediately following birth. Unused RCML after 8 weeks is forfeited.
• One RCML period equals one standard four-hour IDT. Maximum two periods per day.
• Transition to RCPL. The birth parent begins RCPL after the 6-week convalescent period and once all authorized RCML is used.
• Combining RCML and RCPL. The birth parent requests consecutive use. Requests within the first 18 weeks following childbirth should be approved. Commanders have discretion to deny RCPL use beyond 18 weeks based on unit operational and training requirements.

Administration and tracking

• After the RTAMMS update. Marines request RCPL or RCML in advance of the scheduled IDT period. Approval by the Unit Drill Manager.
• IMA Marines. 12 IDT periods scheduled in RTAMMS to utilize the RCPL benefit.
• Drill execution. Muster Managers record leave in the Drill Management Module (DMM) by marking the Marine "(X)-Present Satisfactory" and applying reason code "04-RC Maternity Leave" or "06-RC Parental Leave" as appropriate. Entries submit to the Reserve Marine electronic record.
• Command accountability. Commanders track RCPL and RCML periods. Confirm Marines do not exceed authorized counts within stipulated timeframes.

Fetal, infant, and perinatal loss

• Stillbirth or miscarriage. Healthcare provider might recommend up to 6 RCML periods for the birth parent recovery. Neither parent is eligible for RCPL in these cases.
• Death of a child during the one-year RCPL eligibility period. Unused RCPL is immediately forfeited.
• Bereavement. Marines request to be excused from or to reschedule a scheduled IDT period. Commands approve such requests liberally.
• Casualty reporting. Commands contact the HQMC Casualty Section for specific reporting instructions following the death of a Marine dependent, per MCO 3040.4.

Action items

1. Identify Reserve Marines who experienced a qualifying event between 2024-10-01 and 2025-08-07. Confirm retroactive RCPL use before 2026-08-06.
2. Document the qualifying event under MARADMIN 111/23 standards.
3. Coordinate ADOS deferrals with the parent Reserve unit.
4. Track RCML and RCPL in RTAMMS DMM using reason codes 04 and 06.
5. Confirm O-5 commander signature on any RCPL extension request supported by 90+ consecutive days of qualifying duty.

Connection to higher policy

• Public Law 118-31 dated 2023-12-22. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.
• DoD Instruction on Leave, Liberty, and Administrative Absence dated 2025-08-07.
• Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) Memorandum dated 2026-03-19.

Connection to Marine Corps doctrine

• MCO 1050.3J. Regulations for Leave, Liberty, and Administrative Absence. The single authoritative source for Marine Corps leave policy after consolidation.
• MCO 5000.12F w/CH-1. Parenthood and Pregnancy. Parental leave entitlements consolidated into MCO 1050.3J.
• MCO 10001R.1L w/CH-1. Marine Corps Reserve Administrative Management Manual.
• MCO 3040.4. Marine Corps Casualty Assistance Program. Death of dependent reporting.
• SECNAVINST 1000.10B. Parenthood and Pregnancy.
• MARADMIN 051/23. Active-Duty Parental Leave framework. Cancelled by this MARADMIN for the Reserve Component portion.
• MARADMIN 129/23. Clarification to MARADMIN 051/23. Cancelled by this MARADMIN.
• MARADMIN 111/23. Update to Pregnancy Notification. Required documentation source.

Status

Released 2026-04-23, DTG R 231714Z APR 26. Originator CMC Washington DC MRA MP. Release authorized by Brigadier General Lauren S. Edwards, Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Applicability is the Reserve Component. POCs MPO at SMB_HQMC_MPO@usmc.mil and RAP-1 at SMB_RAP@usmc.mil. Active. Retroactive eligibility window closes 2026-08-06.