Pregnancy and Parenting Policy Tasks and Responsibilities
This MARADMIN clarifies the Marine Corps' pregnancy and parenthood policy as outlined in MCO 5000.12E, which was signed in December 2004. It reiterates commanders' and unit personnel's responsibilities to ensure the safety of pregnant Marines, including mandatory pre-deployment pregnancy testing, proper administrative actions, and enforcement of non-deployability status for pregnant Marines.
Issued: March 18, 2005
1. PURPOSE. THIS MESSAGE CLARIFIES AND HELPS FACILITATE THE PROMULGATION OF THE POLICY AND GUIDANCE CONCERNING PREGNANCY AND PARENTHOOD AS SET FORTH IN THE REFERENCE. 2. MCO 5000.12E, THE MARINE CORPS'PREGNANCY AND PARENTHOOD POLICY, WAS SIGNED ON 8 DECEMBER 2004 AND HAS BEEN ACCESSIBLE SINCE 1 FEBRUARY 2005. THIS MARADMIN REITERATES TO COMMANDERS AND UNIT PERSONNEL THEIR INDIVIDUAL AND UNIT RESPONSIBILITIES TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF PREGNANT MARINES. 3. TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE NEW POLICY: A. PRIOR TO RECEIVING LIVE VIRUS INOCULATIONS, FEMALE MARINES WILL BE COUNSELED CONCERNING THEIR LIKELIHOOD OF BEING PREGNANT AND THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH RECEIVING THESE INOCULATIONS. (1) IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT LIVE VIRUS IMMUNIZATIONS CAN BE HAZARDOUS TO THE FETUS OR AN UNBORN CHILD. (2) IF LIVE VIRUS VACCINE IS ADMINISTERED, SERVICEWOMEN WILL BE COUNSELED TO AVOID BECOMING PREGNANT FOR 3 MONTHS FOLLOWING INOCULATION. B. COMMANDING OFFICERS WILL ENSURE THAT ALL FEMALE MARINES IN THEIR UNIT ARE ADMINISTERED A PREGNANCY TEST 10-14 DAYS PRIOR TO DEPLOYING. URINALYSIS OR BLOOD TESTING IS THE ONLY PREGNANCY SCREENING AUTHORIZED. C. COMMANDING OFFICERS WILL ENSURE THAT THE PROPER ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS ARE COMPLETED FOR PREGNANT MARINES. (1) THE LETTER FROM THE MARINE, WITH HEALTH CARE PROVIDER'S LETTER ENCLOSED, INFORMING COMMANDING OFFICER OF PREGNANCY CONFIRMATION IS THE SOURCE DOCUMENT FOR ALL DEFERMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREGNANCY. (2) THE PROPER DUTY LIMIT CODE "N" MUST BE REPORTED WITHIN THE MARINE CORPS TOTAL FORCE SYSTEM VIA A UNIT DIARY ENTRY. D. PREGNANT MARINES ARE NON-DEPLOYABLE. COMMANDING OFFICERS WILL ENSURE THAT THEY DO NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS NOT A PERSONAL OR UNIT DRIVEN CHOICE AND ALL PERSONNEL CONCERNED MUST COMPLY WITH THIS POLICY. E. PREGNANT MARINES ARE AFFORDED A 12-MONTH DEPLOYMENT/RESTRICTED TOUR DEFERMENT OPTION FROM THE DATE OF DELIVERY. THE ORDER PROVIDES THE OPTION TO THE MARINE, NOT THE COMMANDER. THE MARINE SHOULD NOT BE PRESSURED EITHER WAY TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO WAIVE THE DEFERMENT. 4. COMMANDERS CAN DOWNLOAD MCO 5000.12E AT WWW.USMC.MIL. HQMC POC/ T.J. OWENS/CAPT/COML 703-784-9387/DSN 278-9387