How important is the leave address on DA 31?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 13:09:51 -0400

I filled out my leave form and unfortunately realized that my leave address was wrong considering a planned on going to orlando which is an 8 hour drive. I'm try to look up the regulation on it to see if there are UCMJ action if I go. When I filled it out it wasn't a done deal, I suppose the correct answer is that it sucks to sucks and just stay local considering I my commander signed off on it and it is out of state, just weighing my options thanks?

Response by 1SG Jeremiah Shepard made Aug 13 at 2021 1:22 PM

1SG Jeremiah Shepard — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 13:22:20 -0400

Approved Leave is granted and if you travel out of state and not on a recall notice then you have no fear. Your plans do change and when you have to submit the 20lbs of required forms with your Leave form the best advise it to always pick the farthest place to your relatives as your radius of travel and then always update the signed leave form with your corrected address attached to it when signing out and notify your Supervisors accordingly. Now if overseas travel that is another topic and does not apply to this discussion

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Aug 13 at 2021 4:06 PM

1LT William Clardy — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 16:06:06 -0400

It shouldn't be a big deal unless there is a recall order sent out and you don't comply in a timely fashion, or there is a disaster of some sort at the address you did provide and your chain of command gets worried enough to check on you but come up empty-handed. Or if there's a disaster at the address you didn't provide and you disappear off the radar long enough to concern someone.
Otherwise, your leave address is just unused information.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Aug 13 at 2021 5:47 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 17:47:39 -0400

Your post is a little confusing. Did you submit an address that's local or did you submit it with an address near Orlando?

Generally when people put a leave address down I believe the commander does assume people are going to travel within a close proximity to that address. I think the issue comes in that if you knowingly put down a false address to hide the fact you're going somewhere else is when someone could get in trouble if found out they lied - potentially for false official statement.

Why don't you just correct the leave form? Go ask S1 if there's a way to make a correction to it even after it's signed. You should be able to update the address.

Did you talk to your leadership about this at all? I would have.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Aug 13 at 2021 6:14 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 18:14:00 -0400

Talk to your daggone Chain of Command. Seriously.

Let your PSG and PL know, and ask for either them to brief the Commander who signed the form, or a five minute meeting for yourself with that Commander. Let the Commander know of the Change of plans, see if he (s)he has any questions or concerns, and then (assuming the Commander is OK with it) provide a written addendum to the leave form (or a new leave form, whichever the Commander wants - have both drawn up ahead of time).

Stuff happens, plans change. Commanders understand this. As long as you are keeping the chain informed, there are no worries. I wouldn't even worry about the written addendum , except that we are talking about a *serious* difference in location, involving a radically increased recall time. Plus crossing state lines (which some Commanders get touchy about). If you had originally planned tamp, but now are going to orlando, just a heads up to the PL would suffice. But since we are talking about 8 hours and a different state, go the more formal route, and provide paper.

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Aug 13 at 2021 6:43 PM

SSG Laurie Mullen — Fri, 13 Aug 2021 18:43:38 -0400

I went camping along the Oregon coast when I was stationed at Ft. Lewis. My address was "Oregon coast", phone # CB channel x (before cell phones). Another time I spent a week on a house boat on Lake Powell. I put down the name and address of the emergency station, the name of the boat, and what channel we were going to be monitoring. The command just needs a way to get in contact with you if something happens. When I was on leave I didn't always stay in one place. Make sure they have a good way to contact you and then enjoy your leave.