SECDEF extends maternity leave Published Feb. 11, 2016 By Senior Airman Janelle Patiño 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Secretary of Defense Ash Carter established a Department of Defense-wide standard extending paid maternity leave from six to 12 weeks as part of the Force of the Future initiative, a program that is necessary to ensure the Defense Department continues to attract the best people America has to offer. The 12 week period of maternity convalescent leave will start immediately following childbirth or date of discharge from the medical treatment facility, whichever is later, and will continue through the end of the 84-day period. "I approve a change to Air Force policy authorizing an additional six weeks of maternity leave for Air Force Active Duty Airmen as well as Reserve and Guard Airmen on active duty orders," Carter said. Airmen who extended their current 42-day maternity leave and are currently on ordinary leave may convert the chargeable ordinary leave to the new policy. In the case of dual-military couples, maternity leave may not be transferred to create any kind of shared benefit, and in all cases, unused maternity leave will be forfeited if not used. "Airmen currently on maternity convalescent leave will now be allowed to add an additional 42 days to their leave," said Staff Sgt. Lindsay Mayer, 92nd Force Support Squadron career development NCO in charge. According to Air Force officials, the new policy will protect Airmen from suffering any retaliation for taking the full leave, such as by receiving poor performance appraisals, missing out on advantageous assignments, or being passed over for professional military education. Commanders must approve maternity leave in all cases where Airmen are eligible. Additionally, newly-adoptive parents are now eligible for three weeks of adoptive leave for one parent. Furthermore, the Secretary of Defense also announced the intention to make changes in Parental and Adoption leave.