Posted on Apr 8, 2015
Should convalescent leave be authorized outside of the post area?
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It's been a discussion in my Training Room/CO the last few days.
There is a soldier who is a GEO-BAT and about to have a surgery (ankel) that would give him 30 days of con leave. We are stationed at JBLM, WA. The soldier wants to take his con leave to see his wife/her child in TX for those 30 days.
Personally I'm of the opinion that if a soldier is well enough to fly around and travel to see his family that he is equally fit enough to be at work and just do some type of sitting job.
It's been interesting to see everyones different views on the subject. I was just curious as to what a larger more diverse community had to say about it.
There is a soldier who is a GEO-BAT and about to have a surgery (ankel) that would give him 30 days of con leave. We are stationed at JBLM, WA. The soldier wants to take his con leave to see his wife/her child in TX for those 30 days.
Personally I'm of the opinion that if a soldier is well enough to fly around and travel to see his family that he is equally fit enough to be at work and just do some type of sitting job.
It's been interesting to see everyones different views on the subject. I was just curious as to what a larger more diverse community had to say about it.
Leave
Army
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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Yes, it should be authorized. It's not as though he'll be jet-setting to various countries and hitting the beaches. He's taking a 4-hour flight to family members who will aid in his recovery. I don't understand why this Soldier's situation is a topic of conversation within your training room, or among anyone other than his platoon sergeant, First Sergeant and Commander.
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Yes it should as someone who is about to be on permanent con. Leave staying on base would defeat the purpose. His wife and kids will take better care of him while he's there. If it's a medical leave no one outside of the medical field should make that call. I am fully disabled and cannot function without my family and sometimes I have to visit other members so my wife can have a break. I have never been assigned a personal assistant from the military, so I don't have a choice.
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Yes, I think it should, depending on the circumstances. If the Soldier can safely travel and still get the required medical treatment, why not let him/her travel.
Let's see what the reg says about it ...
I don't see the restriction to remain in the post area in the reg (http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_10.pdf), but I can see how leaders would want their convalescing Soldiers in the area. It's not supposed to be a vacation, it's time to recover from an injury, surgery, etc.
Is that a local policy? Or am I missing it in the regulation?
Here's a quote from the reg:
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Section II
Task: Using Convalescent Leave
5–3. Rules to use convalescent leave
a. Convalescent leave is a nonchargeable absence from duty granted to expedite a Soldier’s return to full duty after illness, injury, or childbirth.
b. The hospital commander or designee is the approval authority for convalescent leave for 30 days or less (42 days after normal pregnancy and childbirth). Only hospital commanders will approve convalescent leave in excess of 42 days after childbirth when a Soldier is assigned or attached to the medical holding unit (AR 40–3, para 9–2) during one continuous period of hospitalization. If the Soldier is not hospitalized, unit commander is the approval authority (para 5–5).
c. The unit commander is the approval authority for up to 30 days convalescent leave (42 days after normal pregnancy and childbirth) for a Soldier returning to duty after illness or injury (para 5–7).
d. The approval authorities establish procedures for granting convalescent leave.
e. Hospital commanders are the only approval authority for requests in excess of 30 days (or in excess of 42 days for childbirth).
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Let's see what the reg says about it ...
I don't see the restriction to remain in the post area in the reg (http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/r600_8_10.pdf), but I can see how leaders would want their convalescing Soldiers in the area. It's not supposed to be a vacation, it's time to recover from an injury, surgery, etc.
Is that a local policy? Or am I missing it in the regulation?
Here's a quote from the reg:
-----
Section II
Task: Using Convalescent Leave
5–3. Rules to use convalescent leave
a. Convalescent leave is a nonchargeable absence from duty granted to expedite a Soldier’s return to full duty after illness, injury, or childbirth.
b. The hospital commander or designee is the approval authority for convalescent leave for 30 days or less (42 days after normal pregnancy and childbirth). Only hospital commanders will approve convalescent leave in excess of 42 days after childbirth when a Soldier is assigned or attached to the medical holding unit (AR 40–3, para 9–2) during one continuous period of hospitalization. If the Soldier is not hospitalized, unit commander is the approval authority (para 5–5).
c. The unit commander is the approval authority for up to 30 days convalescent leave (42 days after normal pregnancy and childbirth) for a Soldier returning to duty after illness or injury (para 5–7).
d. The approval authorities establish procedures for granting convalescent leave.
e. Hospital commanders are the only approval authority for requests in excess of 30 days (or in excess of 42 days for childbirth).
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