5 Ways Army Regulation Leave Works

Leave is an essential aspect of a soldier's life in the Army. It provides a much-needed break from the demands of military duty, allowing soldiers to rest, recharge, and attend to personal matters. Army Regulation (AR) 600-8-10 outlines the policies and procedures for leave, ensuring that soldiers receive the time off they need while also meeting the Army's operational requirements. In this article, we will explore five ways Army Regulation leave works.

Understanding the Types of Leave

The Army offers various types of leave, each with its own rules and regulations. The most common types of leave are:

Annual Leave: Accrued leave that soldiers can use for vacation, personal, or family matters.
Family Care Plan Leave: Leave taken to care for a family member who is seriously ill or injured.
Emergency Leave: Leave taken in response to a family emergency or crisis.
Convalescent Leave: Leave taken to recover from an illness or injury.
Paternal Leave: Leave taken by new fathers to care for their newborn child.

Accrual and Carryover of Leave

Soldiers accrue leave based on their length of service and time in grade. The Army allows soldiers to carry over a certain amount of leave from one year to the next, but there are limits to how much leave can be carried over. Soldiers who fail to use their accrued leave may forfeit it, so it's essential to understand the rules regarding leave accrual and carryover.

Requesting Leave

Soldiers must submit a leave request through their chain of command, using DA Form 31, Request and Authority for Leave. The request must include the type of leave, dates, and number of days requested. Soldiers must also ensure that their leave request does not conflict with operational requirements or impact unit readiness.

Approving and Disapproving Leave Requests

Leave requests are approved or disapproved by the soldier's commander or supervisor. Commanders must consider the operational requirements of the unit and the soldier's individual needs when making a decision. If a leave request is disapproved, the soldier will receive a written explanation for the disapproval.

Special Considerations for Leave

There are special considerations for leave in certain situations, such as:

Deployed Soldiers: Soldiers deployed in support of a contingency operation may be eligible for special leave policies, including emergency leave and rest and recuperation leave.
Soldiers with Family Care Plans: Soldiers with family care plans may be eligible for family care plan leave to care for a family member who is seriously ill or injured.
Soldiers with Combat-Related Injuries: Soldiers with combat-related injuries may be eligible for convalescent leave to recover from their injuries.

Leave and Pay

Soldiers on leave continue to receive their base pay and allowances. However, there are some exceptions, such as:

Leave Without Pay: Soldiers who take leave without pay do not receive their base pay or allowances.
Special Pays: Soldiers who receive special pays, such as hazardous duty pay or combat pay, may not receive these pays while on leave.

Conclusion

Army Regulation leave is an essential benefit for soldiers, providing them with the time off they need to rest, recharge, and attend to personal matters. Understanding the types of leave, accrual and carryover, requesting leave, and special considerations for leave can help soldiers navigate the leave process and ensure that they receive the time off they need.