---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 710a"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "710a"
heading: "Parental leave for members of certain reserve components of the armed forces"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/710a"
units:
  - "Subtitle A — General Military Law"
  - "Part II — Personnel"
  - "Chapter 40 — Leave"
---

# §710a. Parental leave for members of certain reserve components of the armed forces

- (a)
  - (1) Under regulations prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, a member of a [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) [component](/usc/10/3011.md?p=13) of the [armed forces](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-4) described in [subsection (b)](#b) is allowed parental leave for a duration of up to 12 [inactive-duty training](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-7) periods, under [section 206 of title 37](/usc/37/206.md), during the one-year period beginning after the following events:
    - (A) the birth or adoption of a [child](/usc/10/1072.md?p=6) of the member and to care for such [child](/usc/10/1072.md?p=6); or
    - (B) the placement of a minor [child](/usc/10/1072.md?p=6) with the member for adoption or long-term foster care.
  - (2)
    - (A) The [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/2801.md?p=c-5), under uniform regulations to be prescribed by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, may authorize leave described under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) to be taken after the one-year period described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) in the case of a member described in [subsection (b)](#b) who, except for this subparagraph, would lose unused parental leave at the end of the one-year period described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) as a result of—
      - (i) operational requirements;
      - (ii) professional [military](/usc/10/801.md?p=8) education obligations; or
      - (iii) other circumstances that the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) determines reasonable and appropriate.
    - (B) The regulations prescribed under [subparagraph (A)](#a-2-A) shall require that any leave authorized to be taken after the one-year period described in [paragraph (1)](#a-1) shall be taken within a reasonable period of time, as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/10/4951.md?p=3) of Defense, after cessation of the circumstances warranting the extended deadline.
- (b) A member described in this subsection is a member of—
  - (1) the selected [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) who is entitled to compensation under [section 206 of title 37](/usc/37/206.md); or
  - (2) the individual ready [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) who is entitled to compensation under [section 206 of title 37](/usc/37/206.md) when attending or participating in a sufficient number of periods of [inactive-duty training](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-7) during a year to count the year as a qualifying year of creditable service toward eligibility for retired [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title VI, § 601(a)(1), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 288, § 711; renumbered 710a and amended Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title VI, § 603(a), (b), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1931; Pub. L. 119–60, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(a)(10), (11), Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1208.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

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

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

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

2024—Pub. L. 118–159, § 603(b)(2), renumbered section 711 of this title relating to parental leave for members of certain reserve components of the armed forces as this section.

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

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

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 118–159, § 603(a), 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), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1931, provided that:“The amendments made by this section [amending and renumbering this section] shall take effect on October 1, 2025.”

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 118–31, div. A, title VI, § 601(e), Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 289, provided that: “This section [enacting this section and amending section 12732 of this title, section 206 of Title 37, Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services, and provisions set out as a note under section 12732 of this title] and the amendments made by this section shall take effect on October 1, 2024, and apply with respect to periods of parental leave that commence on or after such date.”