Army Directive 2022-06 Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum, April 19. 2022
updates and expands parenthood policies to improve quality of life of Soldiers and their families. Major changes include new miscarriage leave guidance, duty station stabilization for fertility treatment, parental leave for reserve Soldiers, pregnant Soldiers’ attendance at certain military education courses, new temporary active duty tour opportunities for reserve Soldiers with positive pregnancy tests, and certain inclusions for parenthood through adoption or surrogacy. Other updates address postpartum body composition and fitness (such as allowing 365 days post pregnancy for body composition and fitness testing), pregnancy uniforms, deferments for deployment and training, lactation policies, and family care plans.
What does the DoD Military Equal Opportunity (EO) Program state related to pregnancy?
DoDi 1350.02 (change effective December 20, 2022) states that discrimination on the basis of pregnancy is prohibited by the DoD Military Equal Opportunity Program.
Are there workplace exposures that I should be concerned about related to reproduction and pregnancy?
Find the recommended
weight limits for lifting at work during pregnancy based on ACOG guidelines.
Find summaries to
research of some hazards faced by women in the workplace and industry-specific research from CDC.
Are there health risks to my baby from permethrin treated uniforms?
AR 40-502, Medical Readiness (27 June 2019) states that female Soldiers who are pregnant, nursing, or trying to get pregnant are authorized to wear a non-permethrin treated duty uniform. The process and procedure of pregnancy, permethrin, and post-partum profiling is described in DA Pam 40-502. Soldiers
must obtain a temporary e-profile authorizing the wear of a duty uniform without permethrin.
For more information contact your local Army Department of Public Health. Send e-mail inquiries concerning the DoD Insect Repellent System and the ACU Permethrin to the DoD Pesticide Hotline at dha.apg.Pub-Health-A.mbx.pesticide-hotline@health.mil, or call 410-436-3773 / DSN 312-584-3773.
What uniforms are pregnant and postpartum Soldiers allowed to wear?
According to Army Directive 2022-06 (Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum):
- Commanders and supervisors will not require Soldiers to wear the Army Service Uniform (ASU) or Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) while pregnant and for 365 days after the conclusion of pregnancy. These Soldiers are authorized the wear of the maternity and non-maternity permethrin-free Army Combat Uniform (ACU) and Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform (IHWCU) during and after pregnancy while safely returning to optimal fitness and body composition during the postpartum period.
- Pregnant and Postpartum Soldiers may wear the maternity ACU trousers with the non-maternity ACU or IHWCU coat.
- Soldiers may voluntarily choose to end this exemption early and wear non-maternity uniforms prior to 365 days postpartum; however, no favorable or unfavorable action will be taken based on Soldiers' choice of uniform during the full exemption period. Leaders will not pressure Soldiers to end their exemption early.
- Refer to: AR 670-1 and DA PAM 670-1: Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia (26 Jan 2021) https://armypubs.army.mil
Does the Army have a physical training program to help Soldiers maintain fitness during and after pregnancy?
Yes, find out the details about the
Army Pregnancy Postpartum Physical Training Program (P3T).
What do I need to know about immunization before, during, and after pregnancy?
The
CDC states that when you get vaccines, you protect yourself and give your baby early protection. The current list of recommended vaccinations include:
- COVID-19 vaccination: Get the COVID-19 vaccine if you are trying to get pregnant now, might become pregnant, are pregnant or breastfeeding to help protect yourself and your baby when younger than 6 months old and too young to be vaccinated themselves.
- Influenza (Flu) vaccination: Get the inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) or recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) shot. Getting vaccinated during pregnancy can help protect a baby from flu during the first several months after birth. Antibodies against flu are shared with infants through breast milk.
- Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination: Get the Tdap (tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis) vaccine during the third trimester of each pregnancy.
Postpartum
Directive-type Memorandum 23-001, Expansion of the Military Parental Leave Program," (January 4, 2023)
Learn details about topics related to the postpartum phase of new motherhood including deployment deferral policy and the Military Parental Leave Program.
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For services available through the Military Health System, visit their Women's Health webpage.
