Youve Earned It Use Your Leave Or Lose It
Leave time continues to add up as earned, but there is a limit to how much leave can be carried over from one fiscal year to another. Typically, if you have accrued more than two months of unused leave, you lose any amount that exceeds 60 days at the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30.
A service member may be authorized to carry over more than 60 days of leave for a period of time. This is called a special leave accrual and is usually authorized due to deployment to certain areas of the world, assignment to certain designated units or operational requirements that prevent the service member from taking leave.
How To Request Leave
Every command will have its own procedures for requesting leave. It may involve a paper or electronic leave request form, sometimes called a leave chit. The command will then approve or deny the leave request.
The service member must be sure to notify the command when beginning their approved leave, often called checking out on leave and when returning from leave, checking in. The policies and procedures for checking out and checking in vary between commands and may include being physically present, telephonic or electronic notification.
Army Regulation Ar 600
This United States Army policy, Army Regulation AR 600-8-10 Personnel-General: Leaves and Passes June 2020, covers the Leaves and Passes Program. It prescribes policies and operating tasks governing military personnel absences. This regulation applies to the Regular Army, the Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve, unless otherwise stated. This regulation prescribes the policies and mandated operating tasks for military absences, including leave, pass, and administrative absence. This regulation is binding on all entities involved in granting leave, pass, and other forms of absence from duty.
ISBN: 9798669746896
Don’t Miss: Officer In The Army Salary
Military Leave: What It Is And How It Works
Current as of Jan. 5, 2022
As part of the military pay and benefits package, military service members earn 30 days of paid leave per year. You start at zero and for every month of military service, 2.5 days of leave get added to your leave account. It doesnt stop, but the most you can carry over from one fiscal year to the next fiscal year is 60 days, except in certain, very limited situations where you can carry over more.
Reserve component members, including National Guard, also accrue leave at the rate of 2.5 days for each month that they are on active-duty order. Reserve components have some special rules for how and when they can use their leave.
Service members are expected to use leave for any workday that they will not be available for work, as required by their command. They are also are expected to use leave for any day that they leave the vicinity of their duty station, as defined by their command.
When Can You Take Leave
Service members may request leave at any time. Approval will be at the discretion of the command, based upon a wide variety of factors including operational requirements.
Some commands may have specified times when all or portions of the command can take leave at the same time. This is sometimes referred to as block leave and may happen before or after a deployment or during a holiday period. Commonly, block leave time is allowed during the summer and Christmas holidays, and before and after deployments.
Also Check: Army Reserve Student Loan Repayment
Leave And Pass Policy
SUBJECT: Command Policy Letter #1
1. References: Army Regulation 600-8-10, Leaves and Passes
2. Purpose. To provide clear guidance regarding leave and pass procedures, assure compliance with AR 600-8-10 and enhance the safety and accountability of Soldiers within the unit.
3. Applicability: This policy applies to all Soldiers assigned or attached to this unit.
4. Commander’s Intent:
a. Leaves and passes are privileges that must be approved by the Troop Commander. At the same time, Soldiers work hard for and earn their leave therefore, leaders must execute an equitable and consistent program in their sections to ensure our Soldiers get the time off they deserve, while meeting mission and regulatory requirements.
b. Safety is a major concern. Platoon Sergeants will ensure that there is a safe travel plan in place before members of their sections are approved to depart on leave or pass. The Soldiers’ supervisory chain is responsible for making sure that this plan is in place. Approval of leave and/or pass will in part be conditional on having an agreed upon travel plan, COVID mitigation measures put in place , and no overdue items listed on current IMR. I want to ensure that individuals are not trying to stretch the limits of what is reasonable by planning to drive too far without proper rest, by operating an unsafe vehicle or by doing anything else that may result in them getting into an accident.
5. Leaves:
6. Passes: Regular and Special
Army Revamps Leave And Pass Regulation
The June 3 revision of Army Regulation 600-8-10, which covers leaves and passes, is part of the largest update to Army military leave policy in more than a decade, said Larry Lock, chief of Compensation and Entitlements for the Armys G-1 office.
The new regulation encompasses recent changes in leave and passes, rearranges the sections to make it more user friendly, clarifies policy, and covers the new leave forms, he said. It also aligns the terminology more closely with Defense Department Instruction 1327.06, or Leave and Liberty Policy and Procedures.
The result is a regulation that is more comprehensive and will reduce confusion, especially for Soldiers working in joint environments, he said.
The DOD Instruction covers leave and liberty procedures and sets a blueprint so the Army can be uniform with the other military services. Based on input from Soldiers, the Army took the opportunity to improve the Department of Army Form 31, or Request and Authority for Leave, and the DA Form 4179, or Leave Log.
Were an all-volunteer force since 1973, and to sustain our force we want to take care of our people, Lock said. One way to do that is to streamline the process for requesting leave, and enhance morale by encouraging Soldiers to take time off.
We now have an improved process, and that has improved the DA Form 31, Lock said.
Parental leave
Much of the MPLP was already in place and has not changed since last years policy, Lock said.
Don’t Miss: Does Journeys Do Military Discount
Army Regulation Leave And Passes
The purpose of army regulation leave and passes is to provide clear guidelines to all Soldiers about the process of applying for and obtaining leave. It is also intended to ensure the safety of Soldiers within a unit. The policy applies to all Soldiers assigned to or attached to a unit. Before applying for leave, Soldiers should first receive permission from their Troop Commander. Earned leave is an important part of being a Soldier, and leaders are responsible for executing a program that ensures the equal distribution of leave for soldiers in each section.
Army members can take up to three days of leave during a normal duty week. This is a privilege granted to deserving soldiers. A three-day pass is normally granted over the weekend, while a four-day pass gives a Service Member an additional day off during a normal workweek. A four-day pass is a privilege granted by commanders to deserving Service Members. A four-day pass may not be taken in conjunction with another leave. In order to qualify for a pass, a Service Member must take at least two days of duty.
In most cases, a Soldier can carry over up to 60 days of annual accrued leave from year to year. A Soldier can also carry over up to 60 days of annual leave if he elects not to out-process it.
Merging Commanders Priorities And Soldier Needs
In our People First Army, I believe that leaves and passes are something we need to address. For example, are leaders making leave packets too complicated to submit? How easy should commanders make it to submit leave?
Ive been part of units where the leave packet was rather complex and others where it was easy. Sometimes, it was as simple as your DA31, LES, and MEDPROs. But Ive had it also require TRiPs forms and flight itineraries, which I cant always get until I had an approved leave packet. So it was a chicken and egg exercise.
Understanding the readiness issues commanders face, leave, and passes should be simple to request. Right now, I have to submit a DA31, an LES, and my MEDPROs. Barring unforeseen circumstances, I can put a packet together in about 15 minutes. Also, I have to digitally submit it, which can be a dual-edged sword for some.
I realize that commanders have specific readiness needs they need to maintain. However, I still hear stories of people being denied leave for a funeral, a family reunion, a childs birthday, or even a simple mileage pass.
Of course, there are two sides to every story. However, I believe that leaders are obligated to clearly explain when Soldiers can take leave and provide adequate time to put together a leave form. In addition, Army leaders should remove barriers to taking leave and prioritize the submission of leave packets as soon as a Soldier completes them.
You May Like: Association Of The United States Army
Army Revamps Leave Pass Regulation
WASHINGTON The June 3 revision of Army Regulation 600-8-10, which covers leaves and passes, is part of the largest update to Army military leave policy in more than a decade, said Larry Lock, chief of Compensation and Entitlements for the Armys G-1 office.
The new regulation encompasses recent changes in leave and passes, rearranges the sections to make it more user friendly, clarifies policy, and covers the new leave forms, he said. It also aligns the terminology more closely with Defense Department Instruction 1327.06, or Leave and Liberty Policy and Procedures.
The result is a regulation that is more comprehensive and will reduce confusion, especially for Soldiers working in joint environments, he said.
The DOD Instruction covers leave and liberty procedures and sets a blueprint so the Army can be uniform with the other military services. Based on input from Soldiers, the Army took the opportunity to improve the Department of Army Form 31, or Request and Authority for Leave, and the DA Form 4179, or Leave Log.
Weve been an all-volunteer force since 1973, and to sustain our force we want to take care of our people, Lock said. One way to do that is to streamline the process for requesting leave, and enhance morale by encouraging Soldiers to take time off.
We now have an improved process, and that has improved the DA Form 31, Lock said.
Parental Leave
Other Leave Issues
Leave And Pass Army Regulation
The purpose of the leave and pass army regulation is to provide clear guidance on leave procedures and ensure compliance with AR 600-8-10. Additionally, the policy is intended to protect the safety of Soldiers within the unit. Soldiers who request to take leave must have Troop Commander approval, and the rules apply to all Soldiers assigned to or attached to the unit. The goal of the leave and pass army regulation is to provide Soldiers with a consistent and equitable program that allows them to enjoy their time off.
One exception to the leave and pass army regulation is a special holiday or weekend that is longer than 30 days. This is known as a special pass. Until April 2005, soldiers could not take ordinary leave with passes and had to work on their duty day between them. If they needed a longer break, they had to request leave for the entire period.
In addition, Soldiers can receive a two-day pass for exceptional circumstances, such as attending their childrens school physicals or traveling overnight. In addition, there is no mileage restriction for this type of leave, and Commanders may set their own requirements. However, its important to remember that these exceptions should only be used under special circumstances.
If a soldier requests to extend his or her leave beyond the maximum of 31 days, he or she must receive Troop Commander approval. The request for leave extensions should be submitted at least two days before the end date.
Recommended Reading: Military Pay Married Vs Single
Leaders Soldiers Must Understand Army Policy For Leave And Special Passes
- Master Sgt. David Lutz, Asst. IG, III Corps
There are two kinds of special passes, three-day and four-day.
A three-day pass normally begins at the end of a normal duty day on a given day and ends with the start of a normal duty day on the fourth day after an absence of three consecutive calendar days. The standard for calculating the period of the pass is to count calendar days, not the number of hours to be taken.
A four-day pass must include at least two consecutive non-duty days. For example, a Soldier may depart on a four-day pass on Friday evening after the duty day and must return at the start of normal duty on Wednesday.
DA Message, sent Jan. 4, 2008, did not establish new leave and pass policy but was intended to clarify existing policy. Whenever a training holiday is granted with or without a federal holiday to make a three or a four-day weekend, it is considered a special pass.
Before April 2005, Soldiers could not take ordinary leave in conjunction with a pass. They had to work a duty day between them or take leave for the whole period.
However, if they chose to work either the 26th or 28th and only take two of the three work days as leave, they could still have been off 10 of the 11 working days. Rather than being more restrictive and costing Soldiers leave, the DoDI has actually benefited them. Again, because of 2005 a Soldier could not string a leave and pass together.