U.S. Military Rules for Breastfeeding Mothers in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy
November 11, 2008 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under breastfeeding, law
*** Last Updated November 11, 2008 *** Please see the notes for each branch of the U.S. military. If you have notice of updates to military breastfeeding regulations and policies, please alert me with a comment and I will be happy to keep this information up to date!
A military new mother generally receives six weeks of maternity leave starting the day she leaves the hospital. The leave can be extended upon written request along with a physician’s recommendation.
Air Force: The Air Force offers four-month deployment deferrals after the birth of a child. On May 23, 2007, Air Force Instruction 44-102 (PDF document) was modified to state:
4.15. Breastfeeding and Breast Pumping
4.15.1. The importance of breastfeeding during the first year of life to infant nutrition and health and to family emotional support is recognized by numerous private and governmental authorities. The
AFMS recommends that supervisors of AF members who are breastfeeding work with the member to attempt to arrange their work schedules to allow 15-30 minutes every 3-4 hours to pump breastmilk in
a room or an area that provides adequate privacy and cleanliness, if available. Restrooms should not be considered an appropriate location for pumping. The AF member must supply the equipment
needed to pump and store the breast milk.4.15.2. AF members who are breastfeeding or pumping remain eligible for field training, mobility exercises, and deployment. The Air Force Medical Service encourages commanders’ modifications of
these activities and/or work conditions for airmen who are breastfeeding, when possible. Nonetheless, duty requirements may not always be compatible with exclusive breastfeeding. In these cases, the AF
member must decide in consultation with her medical provider whether to attempt to continue breastfeeding and/or pumping breastmilk. AF 422 is not the mechanism for documentation that an AF member
is breastfeeding.4.15.3. The obstetrician, pediatrician or PCM shall annotate on an AF Form 422 a recommendation for deployment for those AF members who choose to exclusively breastfeed, i.e. the infant does not
take formula at all.4.15.4. Breastfeeding/breast pumping AF members may participate in field training and mobility exercises. Decisions to continue to breast pump must be made by the patient, in collaboration with
obstetrician or PCM, supervisors, training instructors and the MDG/CC in regard to having a place to safely express and store breast milk.
In a study of nine women on active duty in the Air Force, several of the women talked about how breastfeeding helped them bond with their babies.
The fact that you’re in the military, hurrah, hurrah, let’s go to war, let’s do this, do that, you’re not a woman, you’re unisex, and once you’ve had the baby, you’re no longer a woman, but back to being unisex. I think the nursing keeps you thinking-I’m a mother, I’m a woman, and I’m taking care of this child. That in itself keeps you sane, you don’t lose your identity.
Army: The deferment from mobility for Army mothers following the birth of a child has been extended to six months as of August 1, 2008. The extension also applies to one parent in dual-military couple who adopt a child. The policy applies to active duty, Guard, and Reserve members. Stars and Stripes reports that for Army mothers stationed in Landstuhl, Germany:
Landstuhl commander Col. Brian Lein signed a policy this summer that encourages a deployment deferment of 12 months for active-duty soldier mothers who are assigned to Landstuhl and its affiliated Army health clinics and breast-feed.
Marine Corps: The Marine Corps allows for 6-month deferments.
Navy: Navy policy provides for 12-month non-deployment period and lactation support in the work environment.
Additional Notes
Of course, policies may be very different from practices. La Leche League offers the following advice for mothers in the military:
While many military units are progressive and include a place to pump and even provide breast pumps, some have never been faced with the challenge of accommodating a breastfeeding service member. It may seem embarrassing and overwhelming for the new mother and her supervisors. Before her baby is born, it is important for a military mother to tell her supervisors that she intends to breastfeed. Sharing this information will prevent commanders from being caught off guard, scrambling to fit pumping into the often hectic military workday.
Breastfeed for Health notes:
Check with your local military hospital or clinic for classes on breastfeeding and for breastfeeding support through lactation consultants, nurses, physicians, and other providers. If you are not collocated with a military health facility and receive all health services through Tricare, check with your servicing Tricare office for the latest eligibility rules concerning breastfeeding support.
For a comprehensive overview of breastfeeding in the military, see Part I (Information and Resources Provided to Service Women) and Part II (Resource and Policy Considerations) of “Breastfeeding in the Military.” Military Medicine. Oct. 2003.
Sources:
~ Army Extends Deployment Deferments for Mothers of Newborns About.com US Military blog.
~ “New policy gives some nursing mothers in the Army a 12 month deployment deferral.” Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog.
~ “New Landstuhl policy encourages deferred deployment of 12 months for nursing mothers.” Stars and Stripes.
~ Rebecca M. Welton, Capt, USAF.
~ Part I (Information and Resources Provided to Service Women) and Part II (Resource and Policy Considerations) of “Breastfeeding in the Military.” Military Medicine. Oct. 2003
Leave a Comment
Any military moms out there? Let us know your experience. Thank you for your service to your country! Again, please let me know if you are aware of any changes to military regulations or policies on breastfeeding and I will update this post.
Hello!! Im active duty air force. I have a baby due in April, and my shop is already trying to send me TDY 5 months after I have my baby. They are so unsupportive of breastfeeding, and it seems that they have no concern for me or my baby at all. I really want to breastfeed for a year…but they’re definently doing all they can to prevent that from happening it seems. It’s like they think I’m breastfeeding just so I won’t have to deploy or go anywhere for temporary duty. It’s ridiculous. I wish I could just get out…but someones got to pay the bills, right? I’m going to try to get a 422 (profile) so i can breastfeed without having to worry about these jerks trying to send me off, even though there’s plenty of other people in my unit that would love to deploy. Right now is just NOT a good time, especially when it interferes with my babies well being and nourishment.
The military isn’t a place for pregnant or new moms. I just had my baby three months ago. While I was pregnant I worked long days, was on all kinds of working parties, and worked shift work that required me to miss meals. Apparently this wasn’t an issue to anyone except myself. Once I had the baby I was required to go right back to work and even though they have guidelines set up for breastfeeding moms, I was given a bathroom stall to pump in. You’re supposed to have a place to pump and a place to store your milk. My section is trying to send me out in the field for ten days and said, “Oh, you can just pick it up again after you get back.” Now because some MAN deemed that we only need a six month deployment deferment I can’t even breastfeed my baby for the first year as the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends. The military says that it’s family oriented, but it’s not. When our children need us the most, we’re required to leave them.
I am in a similar boat. I am single mom in the Navy reserves and had my son in Dec. I just received my orders for individual Augmentee in Iraq. My son will only be 7 months old when I leave. I have heard of the 12 month rule in the Navy for breast feeding mothers but I cant find it on ANY navy document to prove it.
If someone knows where I can find this instruction I would be very grateful, but I’m running out of time.
Stephanie,
Look at OPNAVINST 6000.1C. On page 1-8 “all transfer (permanent change of station (PCS), temporary additional duty (TEMADD), etc.) assignments are deferred fora period of 12 months following delivery unless the servicewoman requests earlier rotation, in which case a waiver is required. Earlier assignment to a non-deployable unit is acceptable, if the billet is a “hot fill.” The purpose for the delay is to allow the servicewoman time to regain her physical strength and stamina in order to perform the duties commensurate with her rate/rank.” Actually not so much about breastfeed moms, this applies to ALL new mothers. Page 1-9 also says “pregnant servicewomen will not be assigned to units that are deploying during the period from the 20th week of pregnancy through 12 months after the servicewoman’s expected date of delivery and any additional deferment time as determined by HCP.”
Why is it that everyone but the Air Force is at LEAST 6 months deferrment – The above article and all the profiles I have seen state that the deferrment for deployment is 4 months – but we arent even eligible to PT for 6 months… umm… am I missing something? I have one daughter and am pregnant with my second…I did not breast feed with my daughter because of the simple fact of deployments… My now ARMY doctor is pressuring me to breast feed with my second one… but I argue the fact WHY? So I can up and deploy in 4 months and leave my baby stranded and alone wondering where his/her real food is? It would be heartbreaking to watch my baby be torn from my breast a short 4 months later… The Military is NOT family oriented… if they wont allow us women to adequately take care of our children, then I do not believe they should have allowed us to sign the contract in the first place. Not to mention a large percentage of the Miltary are Men – who like you other bloggers have stated… do not understand OR want to comprehend the aspects of breastfeeding. I would love to raise awarness on this issue – but where would you even start? The policy needs to be changed… period.
Thanks for listening
Jami,
Totally agree that the policy needs to be changed. Meanwhile, for your own child’s sake (and yours) **Any** breastfeeding is better than none, so hope you will consider breastfeeding for whatever time you are able to do so. It is not ideal to have your choices taken away from you (being deployed, etc.), but the early days/weeks/months of breastfeeding DO provide benefits to your baby and to you, so you can at least take some comfort in knowing you’ve done all you were able/allowed to do for whatever length of time you can do so. All the best, and good luck.
You start by breastfeeding yourself…the POSSIBILITY of being separated from your baby is NOT a reason to not breastfeed him/her. You learn the regulations and fight for them…
I am in the Army, and although I was still under the 4-month deferred deployment, I found my unit to be extremely supportive of breastfeeding. While on several TDY trips ranging in length from 3 days to 6 weeks, I was able to keep pumping and providing breast milk for a full year. It involved researching stores that sell dry ice–WalMart is particularly good for this during hunting season!–carrying packing supplies around, and starting a FedEx shipping account. Hotels where I stayed were quite accommodating in allowing me to freeze my bags of milk the night prior to shipping (I sent a shipment every 6 days, since you can’t refrigerate milk for longer than that). Yes, it’s difficult, but there are definitely ways to make it work. Comment back if you want more information on the logistics of shipping your breast milk home.
Please, more info!! I will be going TDY for 3 months when my babe is 7 months old. I have a huge supply already in the deep freeze, and have 5 months to keep building it…but, I will need to pump while I am TDY.
I talked to one lady that said it cost her $140 to ship 110oz
This seems like way too expensive…and I am not sure if this is doable for me 
On a side note…anyone pump while in formal training??
Stacy,
I am ADAF and had to go TDY when my breastfeeding daughter was 7 months old. I too had a deep freezer full of milk…it looks like way more than is actually needed though. My TDY was 6 weeks so I’m not sure about 3 months. What I did was pump and freeze at my TDY location and then brought 2 suitcases of frozen milk back home with me on the plane. I have to say it was devastating to get home and my daughter not recognize me. She of course wanted nothing to do with breastfeeding either. I continued to pump for an additional 2 months even though she wouldn’t breastfeed. Thankfully she got the benefits of breastmilk until she was 13 months old. Unfortunately for me, and the rest of my family, I have been getting treated for PTSD since I returned from my TDY. It was a short notice tasking and I was not mentally prepared and I had to fight for my right to continue to pump. It was not good, but I survived and I’m now on a mission to change policy. Post-birth assignment deferments need to be at least 12 months.
Good luck with your TDY. I think the more we women talk with one another, the more we realize we are not alone…and there is strength in numbers. We can stand up together and make a difference. And it’s not about getting out of a deployment or duty requirements, it’s about doing the best thing we can for our children and society.
Please post how things went for you and let me know if you want any additional information.
Erica, you are AMAZING! I think you need to travel post to post and give conferences to other women in the Army. There are women in my husband’s company who have intentionally gotten pregnant to avoid deployment. It’s so refreshing to see a military mom who takes both her job as a mother and her job as a soldier equally seriously.
I am currently in the Army and my unit does not support me breastfeeding. They are trying to send me to the field and will not work with me about pumping while we are in the field. I have also had problems with my child taking a bottle and I got told by an Army doctor that there is no point in breastfeeding my child. My unit gave me problems with doing staff duty because they said that I have to force my child to take a bottle. I have recently been able to get him to take a sippy cup instead but I am still having problems trying to get my chain of command to understand the support that I need but they continue to harrass me.
I am so sorry to hear that your unit is not supporting you and your baby and not recognizing the benefits of breastfeeding. You are paving the way for other mothers and hopefully they and their babies will have an easier time due to the education you are giving your unit. Thank you so much for your service to your country!
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) both recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life and then supplemented breastfeeding for up to one year (AAP) or two years or more (WHO). Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life “provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection” that are more common in babies fed formula.
So the military policy only allows breastfeed 6 weeks to 4 months, did the government really recognize anything at all? In the military you are always forced to put career first, family second. After 6 weeks that baby goes straight to the house of drool factory day care, every military mother I have worked with are always taking days off to take care of their sick vomiting babies.
Breastfeeding gives a long list of many longer health term effects and benefits which in turn lowering the cost of health care, there’s a favorable concept the military would typically love to grasp onto, key words let’s see them again, “lowering cost of health care!” That policy should agree more with the recommendation WHO and AAP put out.
I am active duty army, and today is my first day back from leave. for the past month i have put in for leave and everytime i have been denied. i have been trying to find a regulation on breastfeeding. i went to the IG recently and they said that my commander doesn’t have to approve my leave, even though i am requesting it b/c my 2 yr old and newborn still need me at home and is having difficulties adjusting to not only having a new baby in the home, but having a new home entirely to live in. we are still unpacking and the IG said that there is a regulation that says that if the soldier’s home is close enough, she may go home to feed the baby. i have tried and tried and tried to feed my newborn son a bottle and he fights it so much that he has only eaten about 2 ounces of milk all day. i am very concerned about his well being if he keeps fighting the bottle feedings.
I suggest visiting kellymom.com…they have A LOT of great advice!