How Leave is Earned

The foundation of the military leave program is its accrual system. For every month of active duty service, a member earns leave days at a set rate.

• Accrual Rate: Service members earn $2.5$ days of paid leave for each full month of active service.

• Annual Total: This accumulates to a total of $30$ days of paid leave per year ($2.5\text{ days/month}\times 12\text{ months}=30\text{ days/year}$).

This leave is a right, not a privilege, but the timing of when it can be taken is subject to approval based on mission requirements.

Key Policies and Concepts

The "Use or Lose" Policy

At the end of each fiscal year (September 30th), any leave balance in excess of 60 days is forfeited. This policy encourages service members to take regular time off to rest and recharge.

• Maximum Accrual: You can carry a maximum of 60 days of leave into a new fiscal year.

• Special Leave Accrual (SLA): In certain circumstances, such as extended deployments or critical missions that prevent leave usage, service members may be authorized to accrue and retain more than 60 days. SLA has specific rules regarding how long the protected leave can be retained.

Leave and Earnings Statement (LES)

Your leave balance is tracked on your monthly LES.

• BF (Brought Forward): Your leave balance from the previous fiscal year.

• Ernd (Earned): Leave days earned in the current fiscal year.

• Used: Leave days you have taken during the current fiscal year.

• Bal (Balance): Your current total leave balance.

Types of Leave and Absence

While "ordinary leave" is the most common, the military has several categories of leave and authorized absences.

1. Ordinary Leave

This is the standard "vacation" time that is charged against a service member's accrued leave balance. It must be requested through the chain of command and approved before it begins.

2. Convalescent Leave (CONLEAVE)

This is non-chargeable leave granted for the purpose of medical recovery. It is authorized by a medical provider when a service member's absence is essential for their recuperation from illness, injury, or childbirth. Because it is for medical necessity, it does not reduce the member's accrued leave balance.

3. Emergency Leave

This is ordinary leave that is granted for unforeseen family emergencies, such as a death or critical illness in the immediate family. The American Red Cross is often instrumental in verifying the emergency to the service member's command. While the leave itself is still charged against the member's balance, the "emergency" status grants it a high priority for approval, and may provide access to transportation assistance.

4. Parental Leave

Recent Department of Defense (DoD) policy has expanded parental leave to provide dedicated, non-chargeable time off for new parents.

• Primary Caregiver Leave: Provides up to 12 weeks of non-chargeable leave for the parent designated as the primary caregiver for a newborn, newly adopted child, or child placed for long-term foster care.

• Secondary Caregiver Leave: Provides up to 21 days (3 weeks) of non-chargeable leave for the parent designated as the secondary caregiver.

5. Terminal Leave

This is leave taken in conjunction with separation or retirement from the military. A service member can use their accrued leave balance for their final days of service, allowing them to transition to civilian life while still technically on active duty.

6. Permissive Temporary Duty (PTDY)

PTDY is an authorized absence that is not charged as leave. It is typically granted for specific administrative purposes, such as house hunting (up to 10 days) before a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move. Approval is at the commander's discretion.

7. Passes (Liberty)

Passes are short periods of authorized absence and are not charged as leave.

• Regular Pass: A short, authorized absence from post during non-duty hours, typically a normal weekend.

• Special Pass: A 3 or 4-day pass granted in conjunction with a public holiday or as a special recognition for achievement.

The Leave Request and Approval Process

1. Request: A service member or his/her close relations submits a leave request, typically using an electronic system or a physical form , for the desired dates.

2. Chain of Command Review: The request is routed through the service member's chain of command.

3. Approval/Denial: The commander makes the final decision. Approval is based on the unit's mission schedule, training requirements, and overall readiness.