The purpose of army regulation leave and passes is to provide clear guidelines to all Soldiers about the process of applying for and obtaining leave. It is also intended to ensure the safety of Soldiers within a unit. The policy applies to all Soldiers assigned to or attached to a unit. Before applying for leave, Soldiers should first receive permission from their Troop Commander. Earned leave is an important part of being a Soldier, and leaders are responsible for executing a program that ensures the equal distribution of leave for soldiers in each section.
Army members can take up to three days of leave during a normal duty week. This is a privilege granted to deserving soldiers. A three-day pass is normally granted over the weekend, while a four-day pass gives a Service Member an additional day off during a normal workweek. A four-day pass is a privilege granted by commanders to deserving Service Members. A four-day pass may not be taken in conjunction with another leave. In order to qualify for a pass, a Service Member must take at least two days of duty.
While Army regulation leave and passes can be difficult to track and use, soldiers are expected to take advantage of the benefits offered. These benefits include time off from work, annual leave, and sick leave. Military members should always check their leave usage monthly to ensure they use their time off properly. A Soldier should also consider utilizing their leave whenever they are not available for work or leaving the duty station.
For leave over thirty days, soldiers should submit a request to their Squadron Commander. A Soldier’s leave request must be approved by the Troop Commander at least 30 days prior to the start of the leave. The leave request must also include a DA Form 4856 and LES. Soldiers may also apply for non-chargeable absences for events like Boy or Girl Scout major events. In most cases, these events are exempt from the 15-day policy.
The Army has also revised its policy for maternity leave. This policy covers both active-duty and Reserve component soldiers on active duty, and soldiers on full-time National Guard duty. It also covers various types of leave, including primary caregiver leave, secondary caregiver leave, and maternity convalescent leave. However, the Army is not required to pay the entire amount of leave, and soldiers can only take a certain amount of time off from their job at a time.
In most cases, a Soldier can carry over up to 60 days of annual accrued leave from year to year. A Soldier can also carry over up to 60 days of annual leave if he elects not to out-process it.