Service members get 3 weeks off to travel
The Department of Defense released a series of new policies Thursday that support service members and dependents traveling out of state for abortion care, including paid travel expenses and up to three weeks of leave. administrative.
“These trips help ensure that Service members and their dependents can access care regardless of where they live,” Gilbert Cisneros, Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, said in a note. on duty Thursday. “This policy reflects our continued commitment to caring for our personnel and ensuring that the entire Force remains ready and resilient.”
The policy will come into effect on March 18.
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What are the new military policies for abortion care?
The new policies:
- Extend to 20 weeks the time within which service members must notify commanders of a pregnancy.
- Allow service members to request an administrative absence of up to three weeks to access abortion care without having to take time off. This also applies to those who have access to other reproductive health care, including in vitro fertilization.
- Allow travel and transportation allowances to be authorized for service members and dependents traveling for abortion care.
- Prohibit commanders from requiring service members to comply with additional requirements before accessing abortion care.
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“Our service members and their families do not control where they are stationed and, due to the nature of military service, are frequently required to travel or relocate to meet operational needs,” the department said. Defense in a statement announcing the new policies. “The Department’s efforts today will not only ensure that Service members and their families have the time and flexibility to make private health care decisions, but will also ensure that Service members can access uncovered reproductive health care regardless of where they are stationed.”
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Contact Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern.
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