Posted on Sep 10, 2021
SGT Hr Nco Team Lead
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Hey guys,

Just curious if your experiences with your units when your child has been sick and you and your spouse are dual military. What did you guys do? How did your command handle it? Are there regulations that you know of that help dual military personnel to take off for their children’s sake?
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SFC Intelligence Analyst
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I'm a single parent but I've been lucky and had leadership that works with me so I've never had to take leave to stay home with my kid when she's sick. In fact - after my daughter's transplant her team said they urge recipients (adult and children) to stay home for a month. So my leadership at that time worked out with me so I didn't have to take leave that I just had to check in with my supervisor every day either via text, email or a phone call in the morning. But I had to stay within the area of the city near the base I was at. I had enough leave to use but the SEL (it was a joint unit) said no I shouldn't use leave for that.

It was easier when I was closer to family. Now, if my kid is sick, I can stay home with her. But my last OIC would bring me a work laptop to telework - which I just checked emails. Two years ago or so she got admitted for two days with a fever and they did cultures which is why she got admitted. I was able to stay with her the whole two days and it was during an exercise.
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SGT Hr Nco Team Lead
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Nice, that’s awesome leadership. Thanks for the first hand knowledge.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
SGM Steve Wettstein
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SFC (Join to see) That's great to hear a unit/command team would do that. Unfortunately, not all units/command teams are created equal.
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SFC Intelligence Analyst
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SGM Steve Wettstein - That's why I said I've been lucky.
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SFC Air Traffic Control Equipment Repairer
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If you both are in different units you both just ask to take leave. Tell them the situation. If you know in advance your child will be in the hospital just sit down with your first line and make plans. If it happens to be emergency leave you will need to get with the Red Cross so you both will be able to take leave. When my child got sick at day care she had to leave. When I took her to the hospital her doctor gave me quarters for a day so I could watch her. So, that could happen too.
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SGM Steve Wettstein
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There is no such thing as sick leave in the Army. There is Convalescence Leave, Emergency Leave and Ordinary Leave. The Con. Leave and Emergency Leave, sometimes, are not chargeable. Ordinary Leave; Block Leave, Use/Lose Leave, R&R Leave fall under Ordinary Leave and are chargeable. Now you and your spouse could ask your units to approve some Ordinary Leave. If your units do not have anything major planned they should let you take some leave to care for your child.
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