In order to better support service members and dependents who must travel out of state for an abortion, the US Defense Department on Thursday, February 16, unveiled a number of new policies, including the provision of up to three weeks of administrative leave.
Gilbert Cisneros, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, said in a memo that, “this policy reflects our continued commitment to caring for our people and ensuring that the entire force remains ready and resilient.”
The military has been adjusting to the Supreme Court’s ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in June which overturned protections previously established in the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.
The new ruling triggered what is called “trigger laws” in about a dozen states that were planned to take effect almost immediately after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Major military installations are located in many of the most restrictive states, including Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. Concerns about how the changes would be handled by service members and their families who frequently have no say in which installation or state they live in—rose right away.
“The efforts taken by the Department today will not only ensure that service members and their families are afforded time and flexibility to make private health care decisions, but will also ensure service members are able to access non-covered reproductive health care regardless of where they are stationed,” the release said.
According to the policy, which will take effect by March 18, service members will have access to “lawfully available non-covered reproductive health care regardless of where they are stationed” and will be able to request for an administrative absence without being charged leave in order to receive that care.
An administrative absence of up to three weeks may be granted to service members.
Additionally, it “standardizes and extends” to 20 weeks the period of time during which service members must inform their commanders of a pregnancy.
Other non-covered reproductive health services, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF), are also subject to the 21-day administrative absence policy.
The most recent regulations follow the publication of a broad framework on steps to safeguard service members’ rights and access to abortion last fall, though officials claimed they were still ironing out the specifics.
“Our greatest strength is our people,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo in October.
“There is no higher priority than taking care of our people, and ensuring their health and well-being.”
The new policy grants service members administrative absence in order to accompany a dual-military spouse or dependent to access a non-covered abortion.
Additionally, it emphasizes that commanders “are expected to display objectivity, compassion, and discretion when addressing all health care matters, including reproductive health care matters,” and act “promptly and with appropriate discretion.”
The new policy also prohibits commanders from putting additional demands on their troops, such as requiring them to undergo medical testing, religious consultations, or other types of counseling.
Author-Roberta Appiah
