TEXAS — As part of a new directive on parenthood, pregnancy and postpartum, the Army has made changes to better address the needs of families.

The changes impact more than 400,000 parents within the force and include extending exemptions for physical testing and standardizing leave in cases of pregnancy loss. 

Susan Mason cherishes the time she gets to spend with her kids. 

“Sharing moments that I had with my parents growing up,” Mason said.

The single mom proudly serves as a captain in the U.S. Army. She gave birth to both of her children during her service and remembers having to hurry back to work. 

“With my oldest, the policy was a six-weeks postpartum recovery and return to duty immediately after that,” Mason said. “And with George [my youngest child], policy updated and changed to 12 weeks, which was really nice... It was difficult, you know, with six weeks because six weeks goes by really fast.”

Thanks to a new directive, soldiers who give birth are now excused from certain operational and training requirements for an increased amount of time.

“So women, you know, are now going from 180 days recovery to 365 days recovery. So just being able to get that time to get back in shape, being able to spend time with your newborn,” Mason explained. 

Mason is the officer in charge of the Sisters-in-Arms mentorship program. She works alongside leaders like the mom of four Maj. Morghan Beaudoin, to ensure soldiers at all levels understand the Army’s policy changes.

“As a mother who breastfeeds, there’s also a certain time that is now allotted for me to successfully continue my journey breastfeeding my child,” Beaudoin said. “It truly embodies people and families first. It puts onto paper what families have been asking for for such a long time and recognizes the need that parents sometimes need to take a step back.”

Mason hopes efforts like this one make a big difference.

“I think that knowledge is power,” Mason said.