RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Airmen adopting children may now be authorized up to 21 days of nonchargeable leave per calendar year.

A qualifying adoption is defined as the member being eligible for adoption reimbursement of qualified adoption expenses such as adoption, placement, legal and medical fees under Section 1052, Title 10 United States Code.

Adoption leave may be authorized in conjunction with ordinary leave. However, if two service members are married to each other and choose to adopt children, only one service member will be granted an adoption leave of absence.

Title 32 Guard are not authorized adoption leave unless federalized under Title 10 for more than 29 consecutive days. Reserve members must also be on active duty for more than 29 consecutive days prior to taking adoption leave.

Airmen will submit their leave requests on an Air Force Form 988 indicating permissive temporary duty and using the statement "Adoption Leave per HQ AFPC/DPS Memorandum dated May 19, 2006" until the revised Air Force Instruction is published.

Those Airmen who already used ordinary leave for adoption purposes on or after Jan. 1, 2006, should work with their commander's support staff to correct their leave.

Airmen should contact their commander's support staff or call the Air Force Contact Center at (800) 616-3775, option 1, 1, 2 or DSN 665-5000 for more information.