§ 704. Use of leave; regulations
(a)
Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, or his designated representative, leave may be taken by a member on a calendar-day basis as vacation or absence from duty with pay, annually as accruing, or otherwise.
(b)
Regulations prescribed under subsection (a) shall—
(1)
provide equal treatment of officers and enlisted members;
(2)
establish to the fullest extent practicable uniform policies for the several armed forces;
(3)
provide that leave shall be taken annually as accruing to the extent consistent with military requirements and other exigencies; and
(4)
provide for the determination of the number of calendar days of leave to which a member is entitled, including the number of calendar days of absence from duty or vacation to be counted or charged against leave.
(c)
Facilitating Granting of Leave for Attendance at Hearings.—
(1)
Regulations.—
The Secretary concerned shall prescribe regulations to facilitate the granting of leave to a member of the armed forces under the jurisdiction of that Secretary in a case in which—
(A)
the leave is needed for the member to attend a hearing described in paragraph (2);
(B)
the member is not serving in or with a unit deployed in a contingency operation; and
(C)
the exigencies of military service (as determined by the Secretary concerned) do not otherwise require that such leave not be granted.
(2)
Covered hearings.—
Paragraph (1) applies to a hearing that is conducted by a court or pursuant to an administrative process established under State law, in connection with a civil action—
(A)
to determine whether a member of the armed forces is a natural parent of a child; or
(B)
to determine an obligation of a member of the armed forces to provide child support.
(3)
Definitions.—
In this subsection:
(A)
The term “court” has the meaning given that term in section
1408
(a) of this title.
(B)
The term “child support” has the meaning given that term in section 459(i) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 659
(i)).