Active-duty, married Navy dads get parental leave

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) _ The Navy is granting paid parental leave to new fathers, who are now eligible for 10 days’ leave after their wives give birth.

The provision is part of the 2009 defense authorization act. It applies to active-duty sailors who are married.

Previously, sailors had to use personal leave time.

Navy women get 42 days of administrative leave after giving birth and adoptive parents are allotted 21 days.

Navy officials say a major factor behind the paternal leave, which took effect in mid-October, is to keep the service competitive in recruiting and retaining people.