All The Benefits Of Taking Military Leave
One of the great benefits of today's military is Leave. The Leave program is designed to allow service members to use their authorized leave to the maximum extent possible. The leave program allows service members to relieve the pressure and stress of today's military duty by being able to spend time with families, take care of emergencies and just relax and recuperate.
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OUR DEPARTMENTS
Apply For Leave
Take advantage of processing your leave request by applying online or sending us an email.
Leave Eligibility
Officers who hold regular positions with 48% or greater appointments and are active.
Leave Benefits
Eligible officers are granted a maximum of 30 days of paid military leave per year.
Leave Processing
This is the final step where the leave request is officially approved and tracked.
TYPES OF LEAVE
Ordinary Leave
Service members on active duty earn 30 days of leave a year with pay and allowances at the rate of 2.5 days a month.
Block Leave
is when an entire military unit takes leave simultaneously, typically during holidays like Christmas or in conjunction with deployments.
Emergency Leave
which is processed more quickly due to an emergency situation but still treated as chargeable leave.
Terminal Leave
Prior to separation or retirement from the military, a member may take the remainder of the leave they have.
Convalescent Leave
which is non-chargeable and only allowed with a doctor's signature that states the servicemember cannot return to duty for an extended period of time.
Permissive TDY (Temporary Duty)
is a non-chargeable leave for government-related travel, such as a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move, during which the service member is not charged leave but also does not receive travel pay.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What personnel actions are needed when an employee is on various types of leave for uniformed services duty?
Agencies don't need to process personnel actions (SF-50s) for paid leave like annual, military, or sick leave. However, a personnel action must be processed for leave without pay (LWOP) using the nature of action code “LWOP-US” to document the service member's leave. This action is processed only on the first day the employee begins using LWOP, even if paid leave is used intermittently.
Can a federal employee on active military duty also work as a civilian for the government?
No, a federal employee cannot work in a civilian capacity for the government while on active military duty. The Comptroller General has ruled that such dual employment is incompatible with the individual's military duties. Payment for civilian work is not authorized unless there is specific statutory authority.
Can an employee on active duty or training use different types of leave intermittently with leave without pay?
Yes, an employee can use annual leave, military leave, earned compensatory time off, or sick leave interchangeably with leave without pay while on active duty or training. This is permissible according to OPM regulations implementing the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).
Are employees entitled to both military and civilian pay during periods of military leave for civil authority support or a national emergency?
No, employees are only entitled to the greater of their civilian or military pay, not both. Under 5 U.S.C. 5519, any military pay received during the 22 workdays of military leave must be credited against their federal civilian pay. An agency may either reduce the employee's civilian pay upfront or require a refund of the military pay received (minus allowances) at the end of the 22-day period.
Under what conditions is a federal employee on active duty with the National Guard, Reserves, or Space Force entitled to military leave?
A federal employee on active duty is entitled to two types of military leave: 20 days of paid leave per fiscal year under 5 U.S.C. 6323(a) for various duties and training, and 22 workdays of paid leave per calendar year under 5 U.S.C. 6323(b) for service in support of a national emergency. An employee can also use accrued annual leave for military duty.
Is a member of the National Guard of the District of Columbia eligible for additional military leave under 5 U.S.C. 6323(c)?
Yes, a member of the D.C. National Guard can use military leave under 5 U.S.C. 6323(c), but it's for limited purposes. This leave is specifically for participating in a "parade or encampment" authorized under the D.C. Code. It is generally intended for local drills and training and is not for extended active duty related to a national emergency.
OUR DEPARTMENTS
The Military Leave Department is to help our military personnel balance their work and family responsibilities
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