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Serious question here and getting mixed answers about it. I’ve recently requested 29 days of leave. I know this seems like a lot of leave at once however it’s been awhile since I’ve taken significant leave. I currently have 60 leave days. Last year I lost 10 use/lose leave days because I was on mission. I’m about to lose 3 more. During this time that I have requested my squad will be on mission without me because I have a predetermined BLC date that would interfere. It’s been noted in my leave form that I am staying local to ensure I still attend my BDE PT test for BLC. It has been approved by my PSG and my PL already, can 1sgt kick it back without any “Army” reason?
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Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 5
A 1SG can neither deny nor approve a leave. The 1SG can only recommend denial or approval to the Commander. Only a Commander has the authority to make that call.
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LTC Jason Mackay
AR600-8-10 is the regulation. The commander is the decision authority. That's who signs the DA31. The Supervisory Chain recommends approval, disapproval, or modification based on local policy, which has near universal application Army wide. How Much "say" a 1SG has on his recommendation depends on the Commander-1SG relationship in that unit. There is also the matter of having no more than 10% of the unit on leave or pass at any given time for readiness requirements. Units get an ETP for block leaves and the directing Commander accepts the risk.
The flip side is that the solider is trying to manage leave so he is not use/lose. Perhaps too little too late.
Depending on local policy, the Battalion Commander may have to approve the leave due to the number of days requested. I have seen the cutoff at 30 days or more for BN approval, which is the BC's call.
The flip side is that the solider is trying to manage leave so he is not use/lose. Perhaps too little too late.
Depending on local policy, the Battalion Commander may have to approve the leave due to the number of days requested. I have seen the cutoff at 30 days or more for BN approval, which is the BC's call.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
SGT (Join to see) - If your PL blessed you leave times, I would request an open door with him and PS and tell them you problem. They are your direct supervisors and PL is in the direct chain of command. Let him fight that battle. He's probably pissed that Top stepped on his authority anyway.
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SGT (Join to see)
So we have a pretty new PL that’s pretty open with his team leaders/squad leaders. I wouldn’t necessarily say my PSG or PL is upset about it being (most likely disapproved)they said if it doesn’t get approved they “ work something out” with me giving me a few days off here and there. Which I’m very thankful that they would do that for me, however in my 31/2 years in this company I’ve never been given the leave I’ve requested it’s always “modified” by the chain because “we can’t afford to lose you for that many days”. I’m requesting this time for reason and would like the confidence in knowing I can have consecutive days off without always wondering when I’ll be called back in. I’ve been struggling with my own mental health and have been very open and honest with my chain about it yet still am always fighting with them all on things like trying to have time with my family or having time to take care of personal problems. As a young NCO I’m typically the first at work and one of the last to leave. This past weekend for example I was the extra duty supervisor Saturday and Sunday 0800-2000 due to a confusion in the NCO roster. I bit my tongue and bit the bullet, went to work both days of my weekend without a gripe or complaint. Half way through my Sunday shift my wife calls and says she thinks my 11month old daughter has chicken pox. We were at a party the week before and we told a little boy there ended up with them. I drive a cheap old little gas saver 91 Toyota pick up and I had been working on it for a few days and was suppose to finish it that weekend but had to work. So at the moment we only have one vehicle. I send out a group chat to all the other team leaders explaining my situation and seeing if someone will cover the rest of my shift which was only 1600-2000 and in return could take my 0900 work call on Monday so I could take my daughter in to be scene by her provider. I got 0 responses from anyone, not even a “sorry man I can’t”. So I end up finishing my shift and taking her the next day during lunch. I’m also the CQ NCO this coming Saturday. So now knowing I’ve worked 2 weekends in a row and about to work my 3rd and still not complaining, I put in a leave packet and explain how I need a mental break. I’m about to go to BLC, my squad will be on mission without me. I won’t be missing any training, I already lost 10 days use or lose last year due to training and I still have a bunch of leave left. I think it’s a no brainer my leave will get approved. Yet I get this response “there will be training going on, even if you aren’t apart of it we don’t want you on leave”. Not really sure where to go from here but this is an on going battle in this unit and has been for myself and pretty much everyone e-5 or below. CPT Lawrence Cable
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There is an ALARACT out that addresses this issue in response to the independent financial audit that the Army is under (the audit is pretty far reaching) and the ALARACT 041/2019 is very specific.
" 3. (U) IN ACCORDANCE WITH AR 600-8-10, THE UNIT COMMANDER OR DESIGNEE IS THE APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR ORDINARY LEAVE REQUESTS. IF THE COMMANDER OR DESIGNEE DISAPPROVE A SOLDIER'S LEAVE REQUEST, THE COMMANDER MUST STATE REASON ON DA FORM 31, BLOCK 17, IF NOT ALREADY STATED BY RECOMMENDING SUPERVISOR. DIGITAL SIGNATURES ARE AUTHORIZED AS LONG AS THE DATE IS INCLUDED WITH SIGNATURE"
While the ALARACT won't keep you Commander from disapproving the leave, and Commanders have wide latitude in making these decisions, it will force him to document the reason. If you then lose leave, you can request the leave be reinstated based on the disapproved leave.
" 3. (U) IN ACCORDANCE WITH AR 600-8-10, THE UNIT COMMANDER OR DESIGNEE IS THE APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR ORDINARY LEAVE REQUESTS. IF THE COMMANDER OR DESIGNEE DISAPPROVE A SOLDIER'S LEAVE REQUEST, THE COMMANDER MUST STATE REASON ON DA FORM 31, BLOCK 17, IF NOT ALREADY STATED BY RECOMMENDING SUPERVISOR. DIGITAL SIGNATURES ARE AUTHORIZED AS LONG AS THE DATE IS INCLUDED WITH SIGNATURE"
While the ALARACT won't keep you Commander from disapproving the leave, and Commanders have wide latitude in making these decisions, it will force him to document the reason. If you then lose leave, you can request the leave be reinstated based on the disapproved leave.
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SGT (Join to see)
This is extremely helpful information, thank you. Typically in my unit we don’t get our leave packets back if they’re disapproved our PSG lets us know and then we never see them again.
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Suspended Profile
The 1SG should not be denying leave. He should be forwarding the packet to your commander, with his recommendation. Chances are good the commander will agree with that recommendation but the Army says you are owed an answer. Tread carefully, of course, but don’t be afraid to be an advocate for yourself here.
The other recommendation I could give you is if you’re just staying local and taking leave to use leave, submit two packets of smaller blocks with a duty period in between, say 14 days leave, a week of work and 14 more days leave. Ask your chain of command to help you come up with an agreeable solution. But keep asking until you get an answer.
The other recommendation I could give you is if you’re just staying local and taking leave to use leave, submit two packets of smaller blocks with a duty period in between, say 14 days leave, a week of work and 14 more days leave. Ask your chain of command to help you come up with an agreeable solution. But keep asking until you get an answer.
Suspended Profile
SGT (Join to see) my current assignment is such that I’m up against use or lose every year. I take leave and end up coming in to work anyway or take leave and VPN from home to do work. It sucks. But it’s part of *my* job and I accept that. As long as you’re a squared away troop there should be no reason you can’t burn off some of your leave, but if there is a reason the Army says that you should be given that reason.
I always joke that the Army gives you more leave than you can possibly use in a year then yells at you for not using it.
I always joke that the Army gives you more leave than you can possibly use in a year then yells at you for not using it.
SGT (Join to see)
Haha it’s true. My situation at least at my company level is. “Make sure you guys use your leave and focus on your family and kids they need you too” and then are shocked when you want to take leave like you owe them something in order to take leave SFC Thomas Foreman
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