Is there any regulation regarding being recalled while on approved leave?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 22:52:20 -0400

A very good NCO was recalled during an ORA inspection while on approved leave. The ticket cost him several hundred dollars. Is there any regulation that says how this must be done? The higher ups make it seem as though they can recall you on a whim. Thankfully the NCO is well recognized and was later reimbursed with the help of the BC later but other soldiers may not be as lucky.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Mar 14 at 2020 11:12 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 23:12:23 -0400

Google the leave policy reg or go to Army pubs.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 14 at 2020 11:24 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 23:24:52 -0400

You can always be recalled from leave.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2020 11:25 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 23:25:47 -0400

If you look at the regulation you'll see that leave can be revoked by the commander at any time.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Mar 14 at 2020 11:40 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 23:40:28 -0400

It's actually a damn fine BC that pushed to get him reimbursed since leave travel is the responsibility of the soldier, regardless if his leave was ended early or not.
My Respects go towards the Battalion Commander in this situation.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 15 at 2020 4:29 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 16:29:36 -0400

Suggest you read the Reg on leave. You can be recalled at any time to inclede terminal leave and during a specified time after ETS. What are you doing to do- !SG- " Salazar- All leaves are cancelled!" Salazar blows it off, finds unit was deployed to man airport check point doe to Virus. Missing Movement, AWOL, Fail to Obey Orders, etc. Field grade ART 15 or a good chance of a court-martial and BCD

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2020 4:42 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 16:42:51 -0400

Of course we can be recalled from leave at anytime. What would be the alternative scenario?

There’s a dire/emergent situation and your unit must, by regulation, wait for you to get back?

Obviously not, it’s left to the discretion of the commander whether the situation calls for a recall or not. Not sure how else we could Army.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Mar 15 at 2020 6:29 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 18:29:40 -0400

As said below, leave can be cancelled by command at any time. The fact that the COC reimbursed hims says he has great leadership to work for.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 15 at 2020 7:23 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 19:23:52 -0400

Thank you everyone. The regulation says that the commander is allowed to recall you based on military necessity. What does that mean? I don't know for sure, but it sounds like if he needs you to mop the floors, he is well within his right to recall you from visiting your family in Europe to do so. The scenario I described certainly is not even remotely close to an extenuating circumstance such as unit activation. It is disheartening to know that this regulation is permission to exploit a soldiers finances without accountability.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2020 7:09 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 07:09:17 -0400

Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF),
There is no such thing as being recalled by Uncle Sam in conjunction to active duty on your own dimes. Uncle Sam, will always pay a one way ticket for you. It's just incorrect to say you're being recalled on your own dimes.

Back to your post,
Per AR 600-8-10, yes, unit commander absolutely has authority to recall Soldiers from leave, deny it in the first place, or change his mind on leave already granted. The commander is the recall authority when Soldiers are on authorized leave and are needed for return to duty for reasons of military necessity. At this point, you're being recalled per se, on your own dimes.

Something else you need to keep in mind: all enlistments in the United States military incur a minimum eight-year service obligation. Any time which is not spent on active duty, or in the active (drilling) Reserves or National Guard must be spent in the inactive reserves, or Individual Ready Reserves (IRR). For example, if one enlists for four years active duty in the Army, and then gets out, he or she is placed in the IRR and is subject to recall to active duty for four more years (total of eight years military obligation). There is also something else called "STOP LOSS". That is, how military personnel can be required to stay past an agreed-upon date of separation in the event of a national emergency.

As for Military Retirees, those who spend at least 20 years in the military and draw retired pay can be recalled to active duty for life. However, the policy established in DOD Directive 1352.1 - Management and Mobilization of Regular and Reserve Retired Military Members, makes the recall to active duty unlikely for those who have been retired for more than five years, and those over age 60.