Kirtland implements new parental leave policy Published June 27, 2018 By Senior Airman Eli Chevalier KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N. M. -- With the recent update of the Military Parental Leave Program in Air Force Instruction 36-3003, future Kirtland parents have new choices on how to use their parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child. Rather than 12 weeks to the Airman who gave birth and 10 days to the spouse, parents will now have three types of parental leave. “Convalescent leave is for the parent giving birth, and they are authorized 42 days,” said Tech. Sgt. Timothy Meehan, 377th Force Support Squadron NCO in charge of customer support. “Then you have primary caregiver leave for 42 days and secondary caregiver leave for 21 days.” Caregiver roles must be established 60 days before the birth or adoption, and the primary caregiver cannot also be the secondary. After this is established, the non-chargeable leave can be taken at any point in the first year after the birth or adoption, but the leave must all be taken at once. Parents with questions on the new policy can visit MyPers for more information, or read through some frequently asked questions here.