Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

10 U.S.C. § 710a

Parental leave for members of certain reserve components of the armed forces

(a)
(1)
section 206 of title 37 Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, a member of a reserve component of the armed forces described in subsection (b) is allowed parental leave for a duration of up to 12 inactive-duty training periods, under , during the one-year period beginning after the following events:
(A)
the birth or adoption of a child of the member and to care for such child; or
(B)
the placement of a minor child with the member for adoption or long-term foster care.
(2)
(A)
The Secretary concerned, under uniform regulations to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, may authorize leave described under paragraph (1) to be taken after the one-year period described in paragraph (1) in the case of a member described in subsection (b) who, except for this subparagraph, would lose unused parental leave at the end of the one-year period described in paragraph (1) as a result of—
(i)
operational requirements;
(ii)
professional military education obligations; or
(iii)
other circumstances that the Secretary determines reasonable and appropriate.
(B)
The regulations prescribed under subparagraph (A) shall require that any leave authorized to be taken after the one-year period described in paragraph (1) shall be taken within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the Secretary of Defense, after cessation of the circumstances warranting the extended deadline.
(b)
A member described in this subsection is a member of—
(1)
section 206 of title 37 the selected reserve who is entitled to compensation under ; or
(2)
section 206 of title 37 the individual ready reserve who is entitled to compensation under when attending or participating in a sufficient number of periods of inactive-duty training during a year to count the year as a qualifying year of creditable service toward eligibility for retired pay.

Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title VI, § 601(a)(1)137 Stat. 288Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title VI, § 603(a)138 Stat. 1931Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(a)(10)139 Stat. 1208(Added , , , § 711; renumbered 710a and amended , (b), , ; , (11), , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 119–60, § 1701(a)(10)Pub. L. 118–159, § 603(b)(2)2025—, made amendment identical to that made by . See 2024 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 119–60, § 1701(a)(11)(A)Pub. L. 118–159, § 603(b)(1)(A)Subsec. (a)(2)(A). , made amendment identical to that made by . See 2024 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 119–60, § 1701(a)(11)(B)Pub. L. 118–159, § 603(b)(1)(A)Subsec. (a)(2)(B). , made amendments identical to that made by , (B). See 2024 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 118–159, § 603(b)(2)section 711 of this title2024—, renumbered relating to parental leave for members of certain reserve components of the armed forces as this section.

Pub. L. 118–159, § 603(b)(1)(A)Subsec. (a)(2). , substituted “paragraph (1)” for “subparagraph (A)” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 118–159, § 603(b)(1)(B)Subsec. (a)(2)(B). , substituted “subparagraph (A)” for “clause (i)” and a period for “.;” at end.

Pub. L. 118–159, § 603(a)Subsec. (b). , struck out “is a member of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Space Force who” after “described in this subsection” in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2024 Amendment

Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title VI, § 603(c)138 Stat. 1931

“The amendments made by this section [amending and renumbering this section] shall take effect on .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date

Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title VI, § 601(e)137 Stat. 289

section 12732 of this titlesection 206 of Title 37section 12732 of this title“This section [enacting this section and amending , , Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services, and provisions set out as a note under ] and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on , and apply with respect to periods of parental leave that commence on or after such date.”
, , , provided that: