Should Service Members be allowed to donate leave to each other like GS employees can? Would you? How could we change this policy?

SSG Robert Burns — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 21:38:37 -0400

For those who may not know, GS Employee's can donate their leave to other employee's who may need it for whatever reason. It could be for health reasons, family, etc. Service members however cannot. We simply can use it or lose it. Where does lost leave go anyway? If it's lost, shouldn't someone be able to find it?
Anyway, should you be able to donate your leave to a Soldier in need?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Mar 30 at 2015 9:44 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 21:44:08 -0400

SSG Robert Burns, donation of someone's leave to another SM for medical/family emergency sounds great. As always, limits and controls need be exercised.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Mar 30 at 2015 9:49 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 21:49:09 -0400

I think it is very helpful with most of our younger service members who have not been able to earn much leave yet.

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made Mar 30 at 2015 9:50 PM

Cpl Tou Lee Yang — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 21:50:22 -0400

I would sell/buy it, just like duty.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Mar 30 at 2015 10:03 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 22:03:59 -0400

I lost a lot of days when they decided to medically retire me. They only paid 60. I had almost 90. I just "lost" them. Why couldn't I have donated them, sold them, etc? I'd donate them to a GS employee needing to care for their family (if military wasn't allowed) in a NY minute!

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 30 at 2015 10:11 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 22:11:18 -0400

I have about 20 use/lose days that I will burn this year, but if there were someone with a terminally ill spouse or child I would likely help out with my leave

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Mar 30 at 2015 10:22 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 22:22:28 -0400

I see several votes for "no" but no explanation. Defend yourselves!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2015 10:23 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 22:23:34 -0400

Yes we should, there's not valid reason not to.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2015 11:22 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 23:22:02 -0400

I think it would be great to donate leave to those in need. I'm sure most of us ole heads wouldn't mind.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Mar 31 at 2015 10:04 AM

SSG Robert Burns — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 10:04:59 -0400

Does anyone have any idea how this change could be made?

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 31 at 2015 11:57 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 11:57:35 -0400

Ignoring the fact that others can do it, do we have a need to do this?

We accrue 30 days a year, which tops out at 90 total days (60 at end of fiscal year).

"If" someone needs additional leave for an emergency, it's possible to "go in the hole." Marines when we graduate Boot Camp, get 10 days Annual Leave + proceed, even though we have only earned 7.5 at that point.

Furthermore, we have things like Permissive TAD (Paternity Leave), and in my limited experience, commands will make accommodations for Family. If something "bad" happens, we take care of our own.

Worst case scenario, the Command can grant "Basket Leave" instead of "Annual Leave."

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Apr 24 at 2017 8:02 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 20:02:07 -0400

If it's for a bonafide emergency
Such as a disaster at home(tornado, flood, fire..). Sometimes extended leave is needed and mitigating circumstances may prevent authorizing...)

Response by MSgt Jules K made Jan 18 at 2018 10:42 PM

MSgt Jules K — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 22:42:34 -0500

Good god no. Here's why. If you can donate leave, the Air Force will shift the weight (and cost) of responsibility even more to members instead of being forced to either do what's right if someone REALLY needs the time, or deal with the harsh judgment of members and the public. This is a policy that protects all of us, but it's not quite obvious to many people, unfortunately. As noted it happens on the civilian side all the time, and of course in the regular civilian sector, and I'd say it's getting away with murder, unless you really are a traditional small business (less than 10 employees total).

Response by MSG Gary Eckert made Sep 12 at 2022 3:56 PM

MSG Gary Eckert — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 15:56:59 -0400

GS employees can donate annual leave to be used as sick leave. Soldiers do not have an equivalent leave to sick leave. I have donated a couple of times since I became an ACP and both the times part of my donation was returned. The rules are a little complicated but generally the person you are donating to must not have any time off accrued. Therefore, they must use all of their sick leave, annual leave, advanced sick leave (the amount of sick leave they will earn during the rest of the year) comp time, travel comp, credit hours, and time off awards.