Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, today introduced legislation that would make permanent a pilot program that currently allows officers and enlisted service members to take a short “sabbatical” in order to improve work-life balance.

The Career Intermission Program (CIP) currently allows officers and enlisted service members to temporarily transfer out of the active duty component and into the Individual Ready Reserve for up to three years while retaining full health care coverage and base privileges, as well as part of their salary. This transfer extends their active duty service requirement by twice their time of leave.

Currently, the CIP is a highly successful pilot program set to expire in 2019, and Congressman Banks’ legislation, the Military Career Intermission Program of 2018, will make the program permanent.