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Family planning
- Thread starter tmosqueda
- Start date
You'll get much better and more "informed" replies from currently-serving AD women. That said, "family expansion" is, I think, highly regarded as a normal part of life. "Style Points" considerations would seem to prefer that you "plan accordingly" and make it happen when you're on a non-flying tour…or while shore-based at a minimum. Impacts on a "deployable" squadron can be onerous...less-so, but still not insignificant when shore based if you're on DIFOPS orders. The bench isn't all that deep even in the FRS or VX or wherever.
The Navy understands and expects that you will want to have children. I think it kinda sorta expects, as well, that you will plan to do that when the impacts can be best mitigated.
Fair and balanced? Stand by for more current/informed advice.
Start here for general issues: http://www.public.navy.mil/BUPERS-N.../WOMENSPOLICY/Pages/PoliciesInstructions.aspx. As far as flying, much depends on the individual (desires and health status), platform (ejection vs. nonejection seat) and stage of pregnancy. Pregnancy should not affect pay unless you are sent home from deployment (losing hazardous duty/sea duty etc.) though I suppose a squadron working by the letter of law could cut off flight pay if you are grounded. I've never seen it done, but I have seen it for other medical issues.
I will try to keep this short and stick to answering just the questions you asked...
The 2nd question is easy- you will still get paid, you are still a Naval Officer and still have a job outside of flying. If on flying orders, or even not on flying orders but have met flight hours "gates", you will still get flight pay.
I assume the first part of your question is whether you will get to keep flying- it depends. You cannot fly ejection seat aircraft if pregnant. You cannot fly single-piloted aircraft while pregnant (this means solo, there are also some caveats that apply if you were instructing students that would restrict you from flying). You cannot do shipboard flying if pregnant. In general, you would stay attached to your squadron, but you cannot deploy if pregnant and current Navy policy does not require you to deploy until 12 months after the baby is born. (Though you can fly within those 12 months- I can't find the information right now on how long after the baby is born until you can fly. Standard maternity leave is 6 weeks.) If your squadron deploys while you are pregnant, it will be a case-by-case basis what you would do during that time.
If you are not single-piloted or in an ejection seat, if YOU desire, with your OB's and Flight surgeon's approval, you request through your commanding officer to continue flying and can do that until the start of the 3rd trimester. Still not deployable.
If you are a flight student, your training will stop and you will basically be on medical hold until after the baby is born. In that case you would likely be "stashed"- given a temporary job at the squadron, wing, or base where you are.
Your reference for the above information is the OPNAV 3710.7U, see chapter 8.
All OB care is covered by Tricare.
That covers flying, medical, and getting paid. There are a whole lot of other issues associated with you not being able to fly that I won't touch in this post unless you want to ask those questions.
I am a P-3 pilot, almost 24 weeks pregnant with my first child (baby girl!). I am participating in a Navy test program called the Career Intermission Program where I am taking 19 months off active duty to have a baby. One of the many reasons (and NOT the most important) for doing this is to lessen the impact having a baby will have on my career.
Happy to answer any further questions.
The 2nd question is easy- you will still get paid, you are still a Naval Officer and still have a job outside of flying. If on flying orders, or even not on flying orders but have met flight hours "gates", you will still get flight pay.
I assume the first part of your question is whether you will get to keep flying- it depends. You cannot fly ejection seat aircraft if pregnant. You cannot fly single-piloted aircraft while pregnant (this means solo, there are also some caveats that apply if you were instructing students that would restrict you from flying). You cannot do shipboard flying if pregnant. In general, you would stay attached to your squadron, but you cannot deploy if pregnant and current Navy policy does not require you to deploy until 12 months after the baby is born. (Though you can fly within those 12 months- I can't find the information right now on how long after the baby is born until you can fly. Standard maternity leave is 6 weeks.) If your squadron deploys while you are pregnant, it will be a case-by-case basis what you would do during that time.
If you are not single-piloted or in an ejection seat, if YOU desire, with your OB's and Flight surgeon's approval, you request through your commanding officer to continue flying and can do that until the start of the 3rd trimester. Still not deployable.
If you are a flight student, your training will stop and you will basically be on medical hold until after the baby is born. In that case you would likely be "stashed"- given a temporary job at the squadron, wing, or base where you are.
Your reference for the above information is the OPNAV 3710.7U, see chapter 8.
All OB care is covered by Tricare.
That covers flying, medical, and getting paid. There are a whole lot of other issues associated with you not being able to fly that I won't touch in this post unless you want to ask those questions.
I am a P-3 pilot, almost 24 weeks pregnant with my first child (baby girl!). I am participating in a Navy test program called the Career Intermission Program where I am taking 19 months off active duty to have a baby. One of the many reasons (and NOT the most important) for doing this is to lessen the impact having a baby will have on my career.
Happy to answer any further questions.
Something to keep in mind about starting a family as a female aviator, the planning part. I am not sure if things have changed in the past few years but it was not looked upon favorably if a female aviator got pregnant in the middle of an operational tour. Since operational tours are generally about 3 years in length having an aviator out of the cockpit for up to half that time isn't a good thing for the command of the avaitor. All the women I flew that wanted to have children planned and did have children on a shore tour. However I do know of two that did get pregnant while in their operational squadrons and it caused considerable difficulties with manning and workload in their squadron as well as a bit of resentment towards them by their coworkers, especially the other women, who had to shoulder extra work because of it.
I don't mean to discourage someone from having children but just be aware of how you will have to plan for it if you want to have a viable career and a family. If the Career Intermission Program works out that might be a good option in the future.
I don't mean to discourage someone from having children but just be aware of how you will have to plan for it if you want to have a viable career and a family. If the Career Intermission Program works out that might be a good option in the future.
Just don't be this woman: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123347831
USAF SSGT with curtain climbers spaced out at 12, 10, 9, 7, 5, and 3 years of age....so basically we have been subsidizing this woman's uterus while she has been milking a non-deployable status for nearly half her career (once you factor in maternity/convalescent leave)...What the Fuck?! I find it really hard to imagine she has been able to put in the same amount of work as a male 14yr SSGT...
Flash is right...get pregnant in the middle of deployment there will be resentment for those that have to over for you...time it around your career to have minimal impact on OPTEMPO and it should have no deleterious effects.
Pickle
USAF SSGT with curtain climbers spaced out at 12, 10, 9, 7, 5, and 3 years of age....so basically we have been subsidizing this woman's uterus while she has been milking a non-deployable status for nearly half her career (once you factor in maternity/convalescent leave)...What the Fuck?! I find it really hard to imagine she has been able to put in the same amount of work as a male 14yr SSGT...
Flash is right...get pregnant in the middle of deployment there will be resentment for those that have to over for you...time it around your career to have minimal impact on OPTEMPO and it should have no deleterious effects.
Pickle
USAF_WX2USN
Active Member
Bottom line up front, as a woman in the military who truly cares about her career and coworkers, ill echo what everyone says about- there's a time and a place. I have seen plenty of women "use it as an excuse" to get out of certain military duties. I found out I was pregnant with my first unexpectedly my first month in a year long tour in Korea and that was quite the shitstorm. So when it came time to my 2nd child, I made sure I wasn't in my AEF deployment window or any other assignment issue.
I'm not a pilot, but I've been in the military for 9yrs and had two kids while in the service. While it has been hard work and often times civilian moms don't understand, I'm grateful for the life I've been able to provide for them.
I'm not a pilot, but I've been in the military for 9yrs and had two kids while in the service. While it has been hard work and often times civilian moms don't understand, I'm grateful for the life I've been able to provide for them.