Pregnant Military - Lieut. CMD Commander Jacqueline Norden, Naval Air Force Reserve (CNAFR) mobility program manager, donned the Navy's first maternity flight suit. CNAFR has chosen to participate in the early release of new maternity flight clothing to better support expectant mothers. (Stephen Hickok/US Navy)

In 1974, the Navy accepted its first female aviators. After 47 years, pregnant pilots are being given a flight suit that fits them.

Pregnant Military

Pregnant Military

The service quietly provided the first maternity flight suit to Lt. Cmdr. Jacqueline Norden, a mobility program manager in the Naval Air Force Reserve, was part of the early deployment program, officials said this week. Navy spokeswoman Amy Blade said several other pregnant women at the command are in a trial run to determine the uniform's usability.

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The Navy also began offering its flight suits through AirCrypt Systems in May, Blade said.

"A temporary quick-action change has been made to the Aircrew Clothing Maintenance Manual for aircrews on how to access maternity flight clothing," she said.

All pregnant Navy aviators are now eligible to wear uniforms with adjustable side panels and a more professional fit as the aviator's pregnancy progresses.

"Pregnant airmen typically accumulate a large number of flight suits prior to delivery and may require three to five additional flight suits during their pregnancy," Norden Squadron, formerly assigned to the EA-18G Growler, said in a statement. "Wearing oversized flight suits results in long wings and sleeves, which can pose a safety hazard to aircrew scheduled to fly during pregnancy."

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"Pregnant women who don't fly are still doing squadron business," she said. "They still teach classes, work in simulators, give briefings, and represent their organizations. Being able to represent us professionally in a well-fitting uniform throughout pregnancy makes a big difference."

Blade said it was a safety hazard in large flight suits that led to the development of maternity uniforms.

"An adjustable flight suit can expand over several trimesters depending on the size of the pregnancy, saving pregnant airline workers the additional cost associated with purchasing multiple flight suits, as well as the cost of purchasing flight suits historically sized to accommodate the changing shape of pregnancy," she said. "Expandable side panels allow aircrew to wear normal length arms and wings, reducing safety hazards."

Pregnant Military

But most of the pregnant Marines are still stuck on the ground. In recent years, the Air Force has moved to create policies that would allow pregnant pilots to fly longer during their pregnancies if they choose, but the Navy has yet to follow suit.

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According to Navy guidance updated in 2017, pregnancy is considered ineligible for flight duty, although aircrew members may need approval from the local board of flight surgeons.

"Designated naval aviators authorized to fly during pregnancy may perform flight duty only in a Medical Service Group 3 capacity," the directive states. That category refers to aviators who are limited to dual-control aircraft and are accompanied by a pilot or co-pilot on all flights.

Single-pilot, ejection seat, high-performance aircraft capable of pulling more than 2G are completely off-limits, while aircraft performing shipboard operations and cabin altitudes above 10,000 feet are completely off-limits. After the beginning of the third month, flying is completely prohibited.

In 2019, the Air Force removed the medical termination requirement for pregnant pilots who want to fly later in their pregnancy. Pregnancy extends the normal flight duty window by five weeks, allowing pregnant pilots to fly from week 12 to week 28 if they choose. Later this year, Lt. Col. Jamie Jamieson, a member of the Air Force Women's Initiative Group, said the service is actively reviewing science to further reduce restrictions.

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The Air Force has taken steps to design and procure maternity flight suits by 2020. Solicitation and testing efforts began in 2020. The initiative caught the attention of conservative researcher Tucker Carlson earlier this year. An Air Force captain was shown a photo in a flight suit and scoffed that such efforts "make a mockery of the US".

"Women lead our deadliest unit with character," Army Master Sergeant Michael Greenstone responded on Twitter. "They will control any future battlefield we are called upon to fight."

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Pregnant Military

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Airman 1st Class Brandi Fraher, late in her pregnancy, receives a check-up from Maj. Noreen Burke during a unit training meeting. With restrictions, non-flying pregnant volunteers may attend all UTAs and annual visits up to the 34th week of pregnancy.

Under the new policy that took effect Wednesday, female Air Force members who are now giving birth have up to a year to decide whether to stay in the Air Force.

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The change is part of the latest diversity and inclusion effort, the Air Force Center for Human Resources said in a statement Thursday. Previously, if pregnant airmen wanted to leave the Air Force, they had to separate before giving birth, the statement said.

AFPC says this will give new mothers time to understand and adjust whether they want to balance their military career with the needs of their family. New parents can use MyVector's online mentoring system to find other parenting aviators and get their help and advice on how to balance work and family.

"Our nation has a natural advantage in having an incredibly diverse population," said Air Force Acting Assistant Secretary for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Daniel Sitterly. "We need to raise the bar. This is another initiative that empowers Airmen to make decisions for their careers, their families and their futures."

Pregnant Military

New mothers who decide to leave must apply for separation through the Virtual Military Personnel Flight System within 12 months of giving birth and must decide on a separation date within 12 months of application.

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The guidelines apply to active duty, National Guard or Air Force Reserve mothers who give birth on or after April 26. Adoptive parents are not entitled to this separation.

Additionally, there is a policy of segregating pregnant women prior to delivery, and segregation will continue for 30 to 90 days prior to delivery.

"To meet current and future mission needs, the Air Force relies on finding the best talent our nation has to offer," Sitterly said. "To compete for that talented future, we must continue to focus on diversity and inclusion to attract and retain talent."

So is the Air Force

Free Uniforms For Pregnant Sailors: Navy Maternity Pilot Program Still Accepting Applications For Fy 22 > United States Navy > News Stories

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