Page 7 - Desert Lightning News Sept. 2015

Desert Lightning News
Commentary: Changes to the Air Force’s post-partum policies
UNITED KINGDOM - On July 8, I received
an e-mail informing me that I was within 90 days
of my deployment window.
My first reaction was, “Great, I have to do a
ton of CBTs.”[computer-based training].
I quickly realized there was a high probability
that in just three months, I would be deploying
and miss my son’s first birthday.
I joined the military to serve my country. I knew that
signing my name on the dotted line meant I could some-
day deploy. I was excited about that possibility. However,
since having my son nine months ago, nothing has been
farther from my mind than deploying. I, like many par-
ents in the military on active duty, have contemplated go-
ing reserve or even getting out completely.
Recently, the Air Force announced changes to increase
thesix-monthdefermentto12months,allowingfemalessix
additional months to accomplish their fitness assessments
followingchildbirth.AspartoftheAirForce’s2015Diversity
and Inclusion initiatives, this also increases the deferment
from deployment, short tour or dependent-restricted as-
signmentsandtemporarydutytooneyear,unlesswaivedby
the service member, according to an article on www.AF.mil.
I thought joining the military was going to be the
toughest decision I made in my life, until I became a
mother. After giving birth, I failed my first physical fitness prioritize your life and be willing to miss out on milestones”.
assessment. I lost sleep many nights debating whether
KBRP COMMUNITY MEDIA & SAFEWAY PROUDLY PRESENT the 11th annual
EE BLUES FEST2015
f fSELWYN BIRCHWOOD
f fTRAIN WRECK
f fREVEREND PEYTON’S BIG DAMN BAND
f fBUZZ AND THE SOUL SENDERS
f fGIANT BLUE
f fGARY FARMER & THE TROUBLEMAKERS
BISB
——SPECIAL——
NATIVE AMERICAN
BLUES EVENT
7 PM—11 PM
————————————
f r i d ay
SEPTEMBER 11
bisbee royale
BISBEE,AZ
ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE AT HIGH DESERT
MARKET, BISBEE OFFICE SUPPLY, ZIA RECORDS &
W W W. B I S B E E B L U E S F O U N DAT I O N . C O M
September 3, 2015
www.aerotechnews.com/davis-monthanafb
Facebook.com/DesertLightningNews
or not to end my career in order to be a full-time mom.
ThereisnodoubtinmymindthatImadetherightchoice
to stay in. With the recent changes to Air Force policy for
mothers they have made it clear that the Air Force listens
and cares about each and every person in its service.
“The goal is to alleviate the strain on some of our tal-
ented Airmen who choose to leave the Air Force as they
struggle to balance deployments and family issues, and this
is especially true soon after childbirth,” said Secretary of the
Air Force Deborah Lee James, in the Air Force article.
Staff Sgt. Shereka Royal, 48th Operations Sup-
port Squadron airfield management operations
supervisor is a mother of three and has served in
the U.S. Air Force for more than 12 years.
“I was lucky enough to deploy before I became a mother.
Four months after my first daughter was born, my husband
deployed. I was nervous that she wouldn’t know him when
he returned. It also crossed my mind that two months later
there was a possibility that I could deploy again”.
Senior Airman Kristana Eisler, a 48th Logistic
Readiness Squadron traffic management journey-
man, who is a first time mother to Brody, 9 months
old, has been in the USAF for almost six years.
“I have missed out on so much since giving birth”, Eisler
said. “Being a mom in the military is difficult. You have to
Eisler and Royal haven’t deployed since be-
——GATES OPEN——
NOON—10 PM
$20 ADVANCE
$25 AT GATE
————————————
s at u r d ay
SEPTEMBER 12
city park
BISBEE,AZ
7
coming mothers, but both agree it would be diffi-
cult to leave their children. At the end of the day,
they understand that the mission has to get done.
“We all know how important the mission is,
and we’ve been taught to be resilient as Airmen,”
Royal said.“But when it comes to the younger chil-
dren, their level of understanding isn’t the same.”
“With the new changes, if I were to have another
child, I’m more likely to stay in,” Eisler said. “This is
allowing mothers to truly be there during the times
when newborn babies need us. It makes me feel
more welcome in the Air Force as a mother.”
Air Force guidance memorandums will be made avail-
able detailing the changes to policy in the coming weeks.
According to the article on www.AF.mil, the Air
Force continues to research opportunities, in conjunc-
tion with the Department of Defense, to extend the ma-
ternity and convalescent leave period, similar to the re-
cent changes announced by the Secretary of the Navy.
“We want to make sure we develop an equitable pol-
icy that supports all of our Airmen and also maintains
the ability to execute our mission,” James said in closing.
Airmen currently receive six weeks, or 42 days,
of maternity leave, in line with the Department of
Defense policy. By direction of the president, fed-
eral agencies can advance up to six weeks of paid
sick leave to federal employees with a new child.
IVAL
——SPECIAL——
BLUES VILLAGE
10 AM—3 PM
ALL AGES FREE
————————————
S U N D AY
SEPTEMBER 13
CENTRAL SCHOOL
BISBEE,AZ
BISBEE
AIRPARK