Army Directive 2025-02: Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum

SUBJECT: Army Directive 2025-02 (Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum)

1. References. See enclosure 1.

2. Purpose. This directive rescinds Army Directive 2022-06 (Pregnancy, Postpartum, and

Parenthood), dated 19 April 2022; reissues Army policy; and executes Secretary of Defense

priorities pursuant to reference 1f. It incorporates evidence-based health and wellness guidance

to improve quality of life, promote flexibility, and enable all Soldiers to safely continue their

duties, return to readiness, perform critical assignments, and advance in their careers while

growing their Families.

3. Applicability. This directive applies to the Regular Army (RA), Army National

Guard (ARNG)/Army National Guard of the United States (ARNGUS), and U.S. Army

Reserve (USAR).

4. Policy. For the definitions of terms used in this directive, see enclosure 2.

a. Postpartum Body Composition Exemption. This paragraph applies to all Soldiers after

the conclusion of pregnancy, including Soldiers who experience perinatal loss.

(1) The body composition exemption in reference 1u, paragraph 3–15, for pregnant and

postpartum Soldiers is increased from 180 days to 365 days (12 months) after the conclusion of

pregnancy.

(2) Army Body Composition Program (ABCP). Pursuant to references 1d and 1u, all

postpartum Soldiers who do not meet the Army body composition standard after 365 days

following the conclusion of pregnancy will be entered into the ABCP.

(3) Soldiers who become pregnant while enrolled in the ABCP and (a) have been

enrolled in the ABCP for fewer than 30 days before the start of pregnancy (the estimated date of

conception as noted by a medical provider) or (b) have been enrolled in the ABCP for fewer than

90 days before the start of pregnancy, and have been demonstrating satisfactory progress every

month, will have their flag removed as erroneous.

b. Physical Fitness Testing. The following provisions apply to Soldiers while pregnant and

after the conclusion of pregnancy, including Soldiers who experience perinatal loss.

SUBJECT: Army Directive 2025-02 (Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum)

(1) Soldiers are exempt from taking a record physical fitness test while pregnant and for

365 days after the conclusion of pregnancy.

(2) Soldiers are also exempt from other regular unit physical readiness training

requirements (such as diagnostic physical fitness tests, timed distance runs, timed distance ruck

marches, and order of merit list (OML)-generating physical requirements) outside the Pregnancy

Postpartum Physical Training (P3T) program for 180 days after the conclusion of pregnancy.

After 180 days, Soldiers will return to regular unit fitness training. Modified activities within a

Soldier’s limits, and as noted on the Soldier’s profile, are encouraged within the 180 days.

(3) Soldiers may elect an early release from the P3T program and return to their regular

unit physical readiness training. Soldiers can volunteer to take any record physical fitness

requirement within their exemption period, as prescribed in paragraphs 4b(1) and 4b(2) of this

directive, without ending the exemption early.

c. Uniforms.

(1) Headwear. Under senior mission commander authority, Child Development

Program facilities may be designated as “No-Hat, No-Salute” areas. In areas not designated,

pursuant to Army Regulation (AR) 600–25, paragraph 2–1i, salutes are not required to be

rendered or returned when either person is carrying children or articles with both hands, making

saluting impractical.

(2) Exemptions for Pregnancy and Postpartum.

(a) Commanders and supervisors will not require Soldiers to wear the Army Service

Uniform (ASU) or Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) while pregnant and for 365 days after

the conclusion of pregnancy. These Soldiers are authorized the wear of the maternity and non-

maternity permethrin-free Army Combat Uniform (ACU) and Improved Hot Weather Combat

Uniform (IHWCU) during and after pregnancy while safely returning to optimal fitness and body

composition during the postpartum period.

(b) Pregnant and Postpartum Soldiers may wear the maternity ACU trousers with the

non-maternity ACU or IHWCU coat.

(c) Soldiers may voluntarily choose to end this exemption early and wear non-maternity

uniforms prior to 365 days postpartum; however, no favorable or unfavorable action will be

taken based on Soldiers’ choice of uniform during the full exemption period. Leaders will not

pressure Soldiers to end their exemption early.

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SUBJECT: Army Directive 2025-02 (Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum)

(d) Soldiers exempt from wearing the ASU/AGSU while pregnant or postpartum will

not be prohibited from participating in any personnel action, such as attending a semi-centralized

(E-5/E-6) promotion board, due to this exemption.

(e) Soldiers who have profiles authorizing the wear of a “soft shoe” will wear an athletic

(running/walking) shoe with the ACU or IHWCU.

d. Operational and Training Deferment.

(1) To ensure that at least one parent is home with their child, all birthparents (Soldiers

who physically give birth) are deferred or excused for 365 days after the birth of their child from

all continuous duty events that are in excess of 1 normal duty day/shift. These include, but are not

limited to:

(a) deployment

(b) mobilization

(c) field training

(d) Combat Training Center (CTC) Program rotations

(e) Collective Training Events away from home station (unit of assignment)

(f) pre-mobilization training

(g) unit training assembly (UTA) away from home station (unit of assignment)

(h) temporary duty (TDY)

(2) This 365-day deferment also applies to single Soldiers and one Army member of a

dual-military couple in cases of adoption and long-term child placements (such as long-term

foster care placement) when the child is a minor at the time of adoption or placement. This

deferment does not apply in cases of stepparent or sibling adoption. In cases where a Soldier

uses a surrogate, and the Soldier becomes the legal parent or guardian of the child, the event will

be treated as an adoption, and the operational and training deferment applies.

(3) This 365-day deferment will also apply to other non-birthparents, as necessary, to

ensure that at least one parent is home with their child throughout the 365-day deferment period.

The approval authority for these (non-birthparent) deferments is the non-birthparent’s special

court-martial convening authority.

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SUBJECT: Army Directive 2025-02 (Parenthood, Pregnancy, and Postpartum)

(4) Dual-military parents. Birthparents may transfer their deferment to their Army

spouse or co-parent during the 365-day period. If operationally feasible, dual-Army parents can

alternate based on mission throughout the 365-day period.

(5) The 365-day deferment also applies to Soldiers undergoing fertility treatment from a

healthcare provider with credentials in fertility treatment as described in paragraph 4g.

(6) Soldiers who qualify for this deferment will be reported as exempt from deployment

using the requisite Movement Non Availability Reason (MVNAR) or non-deployable reason

codes in the appropriate human resources personnel system.

(7) Soldiers who are currently in a deployment deferment status will be extended no