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Active Duty Pregnancy
DoD INST 6400.05 (Series)
Parenthood and Pregnancy
 
The information contained in these pages refers to pregnant active duty (Active Component and Full Time Support) Sailors.  For information regarding pregnant Reserve Component Sailors, refer to COMNAVRESFORINST 6000.1 (Series) 
 
PREGNANT SERVICE MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES:
1.  Service member confirms pregnancy through a medical provider at either a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) or if MTF is unavailable through a civilian HCP.
 
2.  Per SECNAVINST 1000.10B (as of 16 Jan 2019) Service members who think they may be pregnant are responsible for promptly confirming pregnancy through testing by appropriate medical providers and informing their COs, as appropriate.  The two-week rule no longer applies.  This allows Service members to maintain privacy and determine the viability of the pregnancy.
 
3.  Service members should contact their Command Deployability Coordinator (DC) (Shore Duty) or Command Deployment Coordinator (Sea Duty) to discuss their rights, responsibilities, and expectations throughout the pregnancy, per MILPERSMAN 1300-1306. Service members will acknowledge familiarity with all components of the OPNAVINST 6000.1(Series) and references by signing NAVPERS 1070/613 as directed in subparagraph 8f(1) of the OPNAV instruction.
 
4.  Upon confirmation of pregnancy, Service members and their supervisors shall complete Occupational Exposures of Reproductive or Developmental questionnaire as required by OPNAVINST 5100.23G and NMPHC-TM-OEM 6260.01C.

ASSIGNMENT/PLACEMENT:
1.  Enlisted - 
Commands with pregnant Service members assigned to an operational activity (including aviation squadrons), students unable to continue training at a school activity due to pregnancy, and students who will complete current course of instruction, but not attend further required training, should contact NAVPERSCOM (PERS-454) for reassignment immediately upon receipt of pregnancy confirmation, via a DP AVAIL in accordance with MILPERSMAN 1306-1704.  Pregnant Service members assigned to a non-operational shore command who will be within 12 months of their PRD at the time of delivery should email PERS-454 to facilitate a PRD extension.
 
2.  Officers - 
Pregnant officers assigned to an operational or shipboard activity shall notify their community detailer at PERS-4 immediately after receiving pregnancy notification.  Additionally, pregnant officers at a non-operational shore command and within 12 months of Projected Rotation Date (PRD) shall notify community detailer to facilitate a PRD extension.
 
3.  All Pregnant Service Members:
 
     a.  May remain onboard a ship until the 20th week of pregnancy.  A Service member discovered to be pregnant while underway/deployed should be transferred ashore as soon as possible given the constraints of the ship’s location, current mission, next port call, health of the service member and/or unborn
child(ren), etc. 
 
     b.  Should not be assigned to units that are deploying from the 20th week of pregnancy through 12 months following delivery and release from their medical providers.  Under no circumstance shall a pregnant Service member remain onboard past the 20th week of pregnancy without a waiver.
 
     c.  May continue to serve aboard ships while in port or during short underway periods, provided an evacuation capability exists and the time for medical evacuation is less than six hours to a treatment facility capable of evaluating and stabilizing obstetric emergencies; this requirement includes Temporary Additional Duty (TDY) orders.  The six-hour rule is not intended to allow pregnant Service members to operate routinely at sea, but rather to provide the CO flexibility during short underway periods, as described above.
 
OPERATIONAL DEFERMENT TOUR:
The period of time from official notification and placement of pregnant personnel from an operational command (Type 2 or 4) to a shore command (Type 1, 3, or 6) for the duration of gestation, delivery, and 12 months after delivery, or six months after still birth.  During this period, Service members are deferred from all transfers (e.g. PCS, TDY, TEMDU, etc.).
 
OPERATIONAL DEFERMENT TERMINATION REQUEST: 
Service members may request to terminate their 12 month postpartum operational deferment tour at any point after convalescent leave in order to return to an operational command (Type 2 or 4).  Requests must be initiated by the service members in accordance with OPNAVINST 6000.1 (Series) utilizing NAVPERS 1306/1 or 1306/7 submitted to the cognizant detailer.  Requests will be granted on a case-by-case basis by the cognizant detailer.
 
WAIVER TO REMAIN ONBOARD:
A request from the member to remain onboard an operational (Type 2 or 4) command during the period of pregnancy and 12 months post-delivery.  This waiver is to be submitted to COMNAVPERSCOM (PERS-454) per OPNAVINST 6000.1 (Series) and NAVADMIN 256/08. The waiver must include endorsements from the service member, the Commanding Officer/Officer-in-Charge, and the OB medical provider. All endorsements must be on Command letterhead. The Service member may request at any time to cancel the waiver necessitating transfer to shore.
 
If the service member requests a waiver to remain onboard an operational command, the complete package must be received, processed, and adjudicated by COMNAVPERSCOM (PERS 454) before the 20th week of gestation.  Packages will be rejected if the pregnant service member’s postpartum period (i.e. 12 months post-delivery) exceeds the current PRD.
 
Pers-454 Process:
 
    a.  Placement policy.  NAVPERSCOM (PERS-454) is the central coordinator for the placement and assignment of pregnant enlisted service members.  The function of this central coordination point is to equitably distribute pregnant enlisted service members.
 
    b.  Placement processes.  Upon receipt of DP avail, NAVPERSCOM (PERS-454) will review the placement and assignment options.  In accordance with COMFLTFORCOM/COMNAVPERSCOMINST 1300.1A, a pregnant enlisted service member assigned to this status will be placed in an excess refillable requisition billet provided by NAVPERSCOM based on the following guidelines:
 
       (1) Prior to recommending assignments to the rating detailer, PERS-454 will consider the previously medically unrestricted (ACC 100) Area Type Code (ATC), the service member’s rating, and the equitable distribution of pregnant enlisted service members in a geographical area.
 
       (2) Members are assigned in close proximity to a MTF capable of providing the required care.
 
       (3) To satisfy permanent change of station (PCS) cost constraints, as well as personnel requirements, other factors are considered in making assignments including the location of dependents, the service member's past type duty, and any other medical considerations (e.g. high risk pregnancy) identified by the MTF.
 
       (4) Pregnant officer service members shall notify their detailers and COMNAVPERCOM (PERS 454) MILL_DAOPERS-454@navy.mil.  The community detailer will make the placement.
 
SPOUSE COLLOCATION:
This process is considered during operational deferment tour (DNEC 0054) placement per MILPERSMAN 1300-1000. 
 
REENLISTMENT/EXTENSION WHILE IN DNEC 0054:
A member who has been coded as DNEC 0054 shall be processed for retention pursuant to MILPERSMAN 1160-030 and 1160-040.  At no time will DNEC 0054 prohibit the processing of a reenlistment application.  Additionally, the mere existence of pregnancy does not guarantee retention beyond current EAOS.
  
LEAVE:
Primary Caregiver Leave (PCL) - PCL is a 6-week (42-day), non-chargeable leave period for the designated Primary Caregiver (PC) following a Qualifying Birth Event (QBE) or Qualifying Adoption. (MILPERSMAN 1050-415) 
Secondary Caregiver Leave (SCL) - SCL is a 14-day, non-chargeable leave period for the designated Secondary Caregiver following a QBE or QA. (MILPERSMAN 1050-415)
 
SEPARATION:
Officer and Enlisted Service members may request separation due to pregnancy.  Requests will normally be denied unless it is determined to be in the best interest of the Navy or if the Service member demonstrates overriding and compelling factors of personal need, which warrant separation.  Refer to MILPERSMAN 1910-112 and 1910-124 for additional guidance.
Service members on active duty may request separation due to the hardships outlined in MILPERSMAN 1910-110.  A hardship discharge is intended to alleviate personal hardship encountered by a Service member’s immediate family when discharge is the only solution.
 
PREGNANCY REPORTING:
All pregnant service members should be entered in the Medical Readiness Reporting System (MRRS) upon official notification of pregnancy.  Click here for guidance.
 
PERS-454 POINTS OF CONTACT FOR PREGNANCY PLACEMENT:
DSN:  882
901-874-3867 ext. 1
EMAIL:  PREGAVAIL-TLD.FCT@NAVY.MIL
 
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