Air Force leave revised

  • Published
  • By Airman Hrair H. Palyan
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  The changes made in April 2011 to Air Force Instruction 36-3003, Military Leave Program include revised rules related to determining the first and last day of chargeable leave, emergency leave requests, permissive temporary duty and educational leave of absence.

The rule for determining the first and last day of chargeable leave was changed to align Air Force procedures with the Department of Defense guidance, according to Lt. Col. Jodi Riley, Air Force Military Pay, Entitlements and Allowances Policy chief.

Riley explained that if an Airman is starting leave or signing up for space-available travel on a non-duty day, the member is on leave and that day will be chargeable as leave. If a member returns from leave on a non-duty day, that day will not be charged as leave.

For example, if an Airman who works a typical Monday through Friday work week starts leave on Saturday, Saturday counts as the first day of leave, said Riley. However, if an Airman starts leave during the work week and returns from leave on a Saturday, the last day of chargeable leave is Friday. In addition, Airmen who start leave during the work week and return from leave on a Sunday, the last day of chargeable leave is Saturday. If Airmen return from leave on a Sunday or holiday, that day is not charged as leave.

"The changes to the Air Force leave program, although not quite significant in nature, will require all servicemembers and supervisors to familiarize themselves with the revisions," said Senior Master Sgt. Elaina M. Soluri, 28th Force Support Squadron, manpower and personnel flight superintendent. "As with any other policy changes, the challenge is getting used to change."

Soluri said the most notable change is the rule for the first and last day of chargeable leave, which has been reversed.

Officials stressed that LeaveWeb is not configured to automatically differentiate between the last day of leave and the last chargeable day of leave, Airmen and supervisors will be responsible to input the correct chargeable days into the program based on an Airman's duty schedule.

In addition, when an Airman or someone in an Airman's or spouse's immediate family is admitted into an intensive care unit in critical condition due to a major illness or accident, an emergency leave request is permitted.

"The change made to the emergency leave guidance was the expansion of Rule 3, which now includes admittance to intensive care units in critical condition," said Soluri. "All other grounds for approval and consideration are the same."

Soluri said Airmen and supervisors should carefully read Air Force Guidance Memorandum 2 to AFI 36-3003, paragraphs (i) through (m), before finalizing leave requests under the revised guidelines.

Airmen and supervisors with questions about changes in the leave policy may contact the servicing military personnel section at (605) 385-2378, the total force service center at (800) 525-0102 or DSN 665-5000.

Information in this article was originally published in an article on af.mil