By Carl Surran
New Policy Should Help Prevent Loss Of Leave
Fall 2008
Military members expecting to lose annual leave this Sept. 30 due to caps on carryover leave will be the first to benefit from a new policy that allows them to keep more annual leave, earn or hold certain special leave categories, and perhaps even sell back accrued leave.
The new policy, part of the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, allows troops to carry 75 days’ leave rather than the previous 60 days into the next fiscal year. It is expected to reduce the amount of lost leave caused by the current high operating tempo.
The policy also extends the period when certain servicemembers may use their accrued leave. Those serving in a combat zone now have up to four years to reduce their leave from the maximum 120 days to the 75-day cap stipulated by the new provision; those supporting contingency operations may take up to three years.
Enlisted members also may sell back up to 30 days of special accrued leave earned in a combat zone or designated contingency operation they otherwise would have lost beyond the 120-day limit.
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