DoD implements new leave and liberty policy

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sara Csurilla
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  As we begin approaching the end of the fiscal year, most Airmen start crunching their leave numbers to ensure they won't exceed the maximum number of carry-over days allotted. However, this year and until 2010, Airmen now have more options and different rules to follow according to a new revised leave policy.

According to Michael Dominguez, Principal Deputy under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Considerable modifications were established to the military leave policy in sections 551 and 552 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 and must be implemented immediately to conform to the time-sensitive leave and liberty-related provisions of the law.

The following leave policies are effective immediately, retroactive to the
date of NDAA enactment, January 28:

(1) Annual leave accrual is temporarily (until December 31, 2010) increased from
60 to 75 days. Servicemembers may now carryover up to 75 days of accrued leave,
beginning with the fiscal year changeover from FY 08 to FY 09 (i.e. a Service member with 75 days of leave on September 30, 2008 will not lose that leave on October 1,2008).

(2) Special leave accrual retention limits are increased. Under the new
limits, SLA earned in combat zones may now be kept for four fiscal years; SLA earned in support of operations may now be kept for two fiscal years. Absent further statutory revisions, the higher combat zone retention limit applies only to SLA accumulated during the period of October 1, 2008 through December 31, 2010.

(3) An additional one-time SLA sell back is authorized for enlisted servicemembers. Under this provision, an enlisted Service member may sell back up to 30 days of SLA (this does not apply to officers). Such as sell back counts towards the Servicemember's cap of 60 days over a career. This provision has no termination date.
(4) Authorized special rest and recuperation absence with transportation
a benefit is increased from 15 to 20 days. This applies to personnel completing an overseas duty tour extension longer than 12 months. This SR&R authorization is distinct from and not to be confused with the rest and recuperation program in paragraph 6.15 of reference. This provision has no termination date.

"This will give Airmen an opportunity to manage their leave better," said Master Sgt. Joe Morse, 47th Mission Support Group first sergeant. "Also, this new policy should help alleviate the 'use-or-lose manning panic' at the end of the fiscal year. But it doesn't relieve a supervisors responsibility of balancing manning requirements between meeting the units mission and allowing their Airmen much needed leave to recharge."