Afi36 3003

Develops and maintains personnel guidance for the administration of the military leave program.

AF form 988

Works directly with Air Force Military Compensation Policy Division (AF/A1PA) to support program administration. 1.2.2.2. Implements military leave program policy as outlined in this instruction and in conjunction with other offices as appropriate.

Functional manager for base-level leave accounting. 1.2.4.2. Monitors LeaveWeb.

Updates leave on AF Form 988, Leave/Request Authorization when a unit does not have a Unit Leave Monitor. (T-3) 1.2.5.2. Advises members of limitation on total of 60 days of leave that can be sold back in a career. (T-0) 1.2.5.3. Ensures members sign statements of understanding that they normally do not return to duty when terminal leave begins. (T-3) Exception: Unit commanders may recall members from leave due to military necessity or urgent, unforeseen circumstances. 1.2.5.4. Ensures members do not change established dates of separation for the pupose of taking unused leave. (T-3)

1.2.6.1. Establish annual leave programs to give members opportunity to use leave. (T-1) 1.2.6.2. Enforce Air Force and command-approved leave guidelines. (T-1) 1.2.6.3. Make sure members who refuse to take leave understand their obligation to comply with unit leave programs and that refusal to take leave may result in the loss of earned leave at a later date. (T-1) 1.2.6.4. Instruct members to schedule leave within operational requirements and follow their leave schedule. (T-1)

Members on leave or on other non-duty status should use Risk Management principles to assess all hazards and control risks prior to excessive or hazardous travel, especially by automobile. Applicable guidelines are in AFI 90-802, Risk Management. A comprehensive risk management assessment may conclude that fatigue or road conditions are high risks requiring a change to travel plans.

The use of leave is essential to the morale and motivation of members and for maintaining maximum effectiveness. Lengthy respites from the work environment tend to have a beneficial effect on an individual's psychological and physical status. Weekend absences (regular pass) or short periods of leave do not normally afford a similar degree of relief. In providing leave, Congress intended for members to use their leave as it accrues.

Congress provides for payment of accrued leave when members are unable to use their leave because of military necessity. However, Congress did not intend for members to accrue large leave balances expressly for payment of accrued leave. All members should have the opportunity to take at least one leave period of 14 consecutive days or more every fiscal year and are encouraged to use the 30 days accrued each fiscal year. Supervisors and commanders should encourage members to use leave, military requirements permitting, and consider the desires of the member.

While commanders have final approval authority, they may delegate approval authority according to the organization's needs. Normally, commanders delegate approval authority for annual leave requests to a level no lower than the first-line supervisor. Commanders who report directly to the Chief of Staff, Vice Chief of Staff (AF/CVA), or Assistant Vice Chief approve their own leave

Leave is a right; however, unit commanders can disapprove leave requests due to military necessity or in the best interest of the Air Force. Unit commanders may delegate disapproval authority to a level no lower than first-line supervisors. Commanders may adjust delegation of authority based on mission requirements.

1. Accrual. Members accrue 2.5 days of leave for each month of active duty. See Table 2.1 and Table 2.2 below. 2.4.2. Accumulation. Members who are unable to use leave due to military necessity may accumulate a maximum of 60 days by the end of a fiscal year. See Chapter 5 for SLA provisions. Members not eligible for SLA can request recovery of days lost on 1 October by submitting a DD Form 149, Application for Correction of Military Record Under the Provisions of Title 10 U.S. Code Section 1552, Correction of Military Records. See AFI 36- 2603, Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR

Non-Accrual. Members do not accrue leave in the following circumstances: 2.4.3.1. Absence without leave. 2.4.3.2. Unauthorized leave. 2.4.3.3. Confinement as a result of a sentence of a court-martial. 2.4.3.4. Excess leave. 2.4.3.5. Appellate leave under 10 USC § 876a, Leave Required to be taken Pending Review of Certain Court-Martial Convictions, Art. 76., Finality of Proceedings, Findings, and Sentences.

Members may not carry leave in excess of 60 days into the next FY. (T-0). At the end of the FY, members lose leave in excess of 60 days unless eligible for SLA. (T-0). The Defense Joint Military Pay System (DJMS) drops accrued leave in excess of 60 days at FY-end leave balancing unless automatic carry-over of SLA applies.

is the authority for payment for accrued leave upon reenlistment, retirement, separation under honorable conditions, or death. It limits payment of accrued leave to 60 days in a military career effective 10 February 1976. A military career includes former service in enlisted or officer status. Members should contact the local financial services office for detailed information on payment of accrued leave.

2.5.1. Members will receive payment for up to 60 days of accrued leave and will be afforded time to take any accrued leave in excess of this 60-day limit. (T-1). 2.5.2. Determining Retirement or Separation Date. AFPC Physical Disability Division (AFPC/DPFD) determines a member's separation date, taking into account: 2.5.2.1. Leave balance and leave accrural in excess of the 60-day accrued leave payment limitation for members authorized payment for up to 60 days of accrued leave. 2.5.2.2. Accrued leave and leave that accrues to the date of separation for members previously paid for 60 days. 2.5.2.3. PTDY authorized.

Members may take accrued leave instead of processing time. Example: A member previously paid for 40 days of accrued leave and has a leave balance of 70 days. In this case, the member receives payment for 20 days and can take leave for the remaining 50 days plus leave accruing to date of separation. If member is receiving payment for accrued leave for the first time, he or she receives payment for 60 days. The member then can take leave for the remaining 10 days plus leave accruing to date of separation. The established date of separation remains firm and members forfeit accrued leave if unable to take leave due to extenuating circumstances (for example, hospitalization or convalescent leave). Note: Paragraph 2.5.2 does not apply to members separating or retiring because of imminent death.

Charge leave as accrued and accruing when the commander sends a member home or to another location in a permanent change of station status to await orders for disability separation. Charge any remaining time as an authorized absence after the member uses all accrued leave

Unit commanders may authorize members to take leave in areas outside the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, and US possessions and territories.

Public holidays established by Federal statute are non-working days, military operations permitting. When a holiday falls on a Saturday, the non-working day is the preceding Friday. When a holiday falls on a Sunday, the non-working day is the following Monday. Holidays are chargeable leave days if they occur during an authorized period of leave.

Leave for Enforcement of Child Support Obligation. Unit commanders approve leave requested to attend hearings to determine paternity or to determine an obligation to provide child support. (T-3). Unit commanders may disapprove such leave requests if the member is serving in or with a unit deployed in a contingency operation or exigencies of the military service require a denial of such request

A member ordered TDY while on leave reverts to duty status as of the TDY effective date.

Unit commanders may recall members from leave for military necessity or in the best interest of the Air Force. When recalling a member, do not charge the period of absence as leave when the period between departure on leave and the member's receipt of recall is 3 days or less. Consider the remaining time of absence as travel time, unless the unit commander determines it is clearly excessive to the circumstances. If determined excessive, charge the entire period of absence as leave. (T-3).

2.8.4.1. See DoD 7000.14-R, Volume 7A, to determine whether an absence was unavoidable. 2.8.4.2. Charge leave for an absence in excess of authorized leave or pass if the unit commander later determines the absence to be unavoidable; otherwise, consider it absence without leave.

2.8.4.3. Do not charge leave for an absence in excess of authorized leave caused by mental incapacity, detention by civil authorities, and early departure of a mobile unit due to operational commitments. (T-0). This applies whether the absence is avoidable or excused as unavoidable, regardless of duration. 2.8.4.4. Charge leave for other unauthorized absences that the unit commander determines to have been unavoidable. (T-0). The period of time that members may be absent from duty beyond their authorized liberty, when the absence has been determined to be unavoidable, will be charged to the member's leave account when the entire period of authorized and excused unauthorized absence exceeds 3 days. However, if the absence is determined to be avoidable, the period exceeding the authorized absence will be considered unauthorized. (T-0).

Another name for annual leave is "ordinary" leave. Normally, members request leave, as accruing, within mission requirements and other exigencies. Member's failure to use leave, as accruing, can result in loss of accrued leave at fiscal year- end leave balancing or upon retirement or separation from active duty.

3.1.1.1.1. For vacation or short periods of rest from duty. 3.1.1.1.2. To attend to parental family needs such as illnesses. 3.1.1.1.3. With a permanent change of station or after periods of arduous duty and protracted periods of deployment from the home station. 3.1.1.1.4. During traditional national holiday periods. 3.1.1.1.5. To attend to family emergencies or personal situations caused by natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes. 3.1.1.1.6. For attendance at spiritual events or for other religious observances. 3.1.1.1.7. During the pre-processing period incident to release from active duty. 3.1.1.1.8. As terminal leave with retirement or separation from active duty. However, members separating under PALACE CHASE or PALACE FRONT may carry any unused leave over to the Reserve Component (RC) as long as there is no break in service (refer to paragraph 3.1.1.1.9) for future use. 3.1.1.1.9. Prior to the end of an active duty tour for RC personnel. However, an RC member who accumulates leave during a period of active service may carry over any leave so accumulated to the member's next period of active service, subject to the accumulation limits in 10 USC § 701, without regard to separation or release from active service if the separation or release is under honorable conditions. (T-0)

3.1.1.2.1. Notify parent organizations of leave requests. (T-3) 3.1.1.2.2. Approve leaves with which the parent organizations agree. (T-3)

3.1.1.4.1. The member must ask, orally or in writing, for the extension sufficiently in advance of expiration of leave authorized to permit return to duty at the proper time if the approval authority disapproves the extension. (T-3) 3.1.1.4.2. Members who fall ill or need hospitalization while on leave must advise the leave-approving authority as soon as possible. (T-3). See paragraph 2.8.6 3.1.1.4.3. The next of kin, attending physician, nearest Military Treatment Facility, or American Red Cross may act on a member's behalf. See paragraph 2.8.5.2

Leave Begins and Ends in the Local Area. The local area is the place where the member lives and from which he or she commutes to the duty station. Charge leave for duty days and non-duty days (for example, Friday through Monday) when members take leave on the day before and the day after non-duty days. This applies to leave taken in the local area. Exception: When a member's leave ends on a day before a non-duty day, the commander may authorize leave on the next duty day for an emergency situation and not charge leave for the non-duty days. If the member knew of the emergency situation before his or her departure on the original leave, charge the member leave for the weekend or other non-duty days.

Advance leave is leave granted based on a reasonable expectation that a member will accrue leave during the remaining period of active military service.

The purpose of advance leave is to enable members to resolve emergencies or urgent personal situations when they have limited or no accrued leave. Members may not depart on leave before the unit commander approves the advance leave. (T-3)

1. For members pending administrative or punitive actions requiring their separation at the earliest possible date. (T-1) 3.1.2.2.2. In conjunction with excess leave authorized for members awaiting punitive, administrative, or disability discharge. (

Requesting up to 30 days of advance leave and includes leave requests which, if approved, result in a negative leave balance of 30 or less days. Note: Unit commanders normally approve the lesser of 30 days or the amount of leave the member will earn during the remaining period of active military service. 3.1.2.3.2. Requesting up to 30 days of advance leave in connection with travel, either permanent change of station or TDY, including a consecutive overseas tour. This includes leave requests which, if approved, result in a negative leave balance of 30 or less days

Emergency leave is chargeable leave granted for personal or family emergencies involving the immediate family and may be approved in initial periods of no more than 30 days and extensions for no more than 30 days.

3.1.3.1.1. Parents (including stepparents). 3.1.3.1.2. Children (including illegitimate children and stepchildren). 3.1.3.1.3. Brothers and sisters. 3.1.3.1.4. Sole surviving blood relative. 3.1.3.1.5. In loco parentis person (defined in Table 3.3, Rule 1).

Unit commanders approve initial emergency leave periods up to 30 days and extensions up to 30 days. (T-0) If a member has, or anticipates, a negative leave balance, unit commander considers only that leave which is absolutely necessary to take care of the emergency situation. (T-3) Note: The TDY commander or Personnel Support for Contingency Operations Team Chief approves emergency leave after notifying and receiving approval from the unit of assignment.

En route leave is ordinary leave members use in connection with permanent change of station, including to their first permanent change of station upon completion of technical training. Members may request advance leave when they do not have enough accrued leave to use as en route leave.

3.1.4.1.1. Approve up to 30 days en route leave with any permanent change of station move if the leave does not interfere with the reporting date to either a port or new assignment. 3.1.4.1.2. Ensure members sign a statement agreeing not to report early for a new assignment when taking en route leave.

Terminal leave is chargeable leave taken in conjunction with retirement or separation from active duty. Member's last day of leave coincides with the last day of active duty.

Unit commanders approve terminal leave.

Environmental and Morale Leave is leave authorized at an overseas installation where adverse environmental conditions require special arrangements for leave in desirable places at periodic intervals. The EML taken is ordinary leave. Combatant commanders designate the authorized EML duty locations and destinations.

The purpose of EML is to make use of DoD-owned or controlled aircraft to supplement in-country leave schedules established to carry out basic leave programs.

Funded EML authorizes members DoD-owned or -controlled air transportation from EML duty locations for purposes of taking leave in an EML destination site. Do not charge leave for member's time spent en route to and returning from an EML destination site. Charge leave for the period of time at the EML destination site. Leave begins the day after the member arrives at the aerial port of debarkation that services the destination site. Leave ends the day before the member returns to the aerial port of embarkation. See JTR, paragraph 0404, Government Funded Leave.

Convalescent leave is an authorized absence normally for the minimal time essential to meet the medical needs for recuperation. The Air Force Surgeon General (AF/SG) oversees the convalescent leave program in accordance with AFMAN 41- 210, Tricare Operations and Patient Administration. See Table 3.4

The unit commander normally approves convalescent leave, to include any associated and cleared travel, up to 30 days based on the recommendations by either the medical facility's authority or the attending physician most familiar with the member's medical condition. The commander must not approve more than 30 days initial convalescent leave. (T-1). Extending convalescent leave beyond 30 days requires additional medical review and consent. Exception: Convalescent leave due to pregnancy or childbirth. Note: During short absences of the unit commander, the commander's designated representative may approve convalescent leave.

The unit commander may terminate convalescent leave status if the member's continued absence from duty would clearly have an adverse impact on the readiness or operational mission of the unit. The unit commander must consult the cognizant military health authority to determine whether such action is medically advisable prior to terminating convalescent leave.

The Military Parental Leave Program shall consist of the following forms of non-chargeable leave following a qualifying birth event or adoption for covered service members: Maternity Convalescent Leave per paragraph 3.2.1.1.2, Primary Caregiver Leave; and, Secondary Caregiver Leave. (T-0)

Any amount of Primary or Secondary Caregiver Leave remaining unused at the time of separation from active service shall be forfeited. (T-0)

Excess leave is leave members normally use for personal or family emergency situations when members cannot request advance leave. Excess leave is a no- pay status; therefore, authority for pay and allowances and leave accrual stops on member's first day of excess leave.

With the concurrence of the Show Cause Authority concerned, commanders may place on involuntary excess leave, regular officers recommended for discharge (i.e., not recommended for retention on active duty) by a Board of Inquiry "Show Cause Board." The officer may be required to begin such leave at any time following the officer's receipt of the report of the board of inquiry including the board's recommendation for discharge/removal from active duty, and the expiration of any period allowed for submission by the officer of a rebuttal to that report

For overruled or set- aside court-martial sentences, members: 3.2.3.4.1. Qualify for pay and allowances for excess leave taken when directed by the unit commander. 3.2.3.4.2. Do not qualify for pay and allowances for voluntary excess leave taken. 3.2.3.4.3. Do not get credit for accrued leave for which they elected payment before departing on appellate-review leave.

PTDY is an authorized absence limited to reasons in Table 3.6 below. Unit commanders may not authorize PTDY in place of leave or special pass nor in conjunction with special passes, or for reasons in paragraph 3.2.4.6

A pass period is an authorized absence from duty for a relatively short time. Note: For an extension beyond the authorized pass period, a Service member shall be charged leave for the entire period if the absence exceeds 3 days and is deemed unauthorized and avoidable. (T-0) For unavoidable circumstances, a Service member will be charged leave only for those days beyond the authorized pass period. (T-0)

A regular pass (liberty) starts after normal working hours on a given day and stops at the beginning of normal working hours on the next working day. 4.2.2. A regular pass normally begins at the end of working hours on Friday afternoon until the beginning of normal working hours on the following Monday when non-duty days are Saturday and Sunday.

Unit commanders may award 3- or 4-day special passes for special occasions or circumstances, such as reenlistment or for some type of special recognition or compensatory time off. They may delegate approval to a level no lower than squadron section commander, deputies, or equivalents.

A provisions when deployments or assignments to a hostile-fire or imminent-danger pay area prohibit members from using leave. SLA also applies when deployments or assignments to designated operational missions at the national level prohibit members from using leave. It provides information on restoring leave lost at the end of the FY, when permitted by Congress.

Leave in Excess of 60 Days at the End of the Fiscal Year. SLA allows members assigned to hostile fire/imminent danger pay areas for 120 consecutive days or more or members not serving in a hostile fire or imminent danger area, but who are assigned to qualifying duties, as designated by SAF/MR, to accumulate leave in excess of 60 days.