What’s the suggested step if your unit denies your emergency leave request while deployed? EO, IG... ?

2020-07-22T11:14:23-04:00

Immediate family member diagnosed with malignant cancer. I am not in a leadership position, E-4.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2020 11:23 AM

2020-07-22T11:23:03-04:00

red cross? Don't see this being an EO issue unless they have allowed someone else to take emergency leave for similar circumstances.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jul 22 at 2020 11:57 AM

2020-07-22T11:57:11-04:00

Not to be heartless, but I have to point out/ask.
Diagnosed is not the same as dying. Is there a timetable for life expectancy? Has that been presented as part of the request? If the family member was given 6 months (or even 3) to live, this would not qualify as an "emergency" in most people's eyes. I do not know what the reg says (and I am retired, so no longer have quick and easy access to look it up), but I would guess that it would agree.
I know this sounds cruel and unfair. But, provided that it is not TRULY an "emergency" situation (I.e. one week left to live), work with your NCOs to re-submit as an ordinary leave packet. Possibly even ordinary leave under emergency conditions (which is different than emergency leave, believe it or not).

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2020 12:12 PM

2020-07-22T12:12:45-04:00

Malignant cancer is not an emergency situation. Unless that member dies, you don’t have a reason for emergency leave. If you go on leave, when you return, the person will still have cancer so the leave had no effect.

I worked in the Mayor Cell on my last NTC rotation, and we received well over a hundred Red Cross messages in a few weeks. Some were things like “uncle diagnosed with cancer, death not imminent”. Your command is getting all these requests daily. Unless death is imminent, it’s not an emergency situation and doesn’t warrant emergency leave.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2020 2:07 PM

2020-07-22T14:07:38-04:00

The American Red Cross defines "emergency" as a sudden, generally unexpected, occurrence of a time-critical and short-term nature that disrupts or threatens to disrupt the norm and that demands immediate action or attention, including death, serious illness, and life-threatening situations, as well as the good news of the birth of a child.

I also ask how you consider immediate family. For the military it has to be a parent, sibling, or child. I have seen many messages for grandparents when I was a Rear Detachment Commander and they were all denied. Unless, you have loco parentis they are not immediate. Plus unless it's terminal then you wouldn't qualify. I had leukemia. Luckily it was a chronic version. It would have not helped to have had visitors. It may not be what you want to hear but we have commitments.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jul 22 at 2020 2:12 PM

2020-07-22T14:12:38-04:00

Not to be a horrible person, but cancer can take years to be terminal. Is there any information that justifies you taking leave "right now" other than it's scary and emotionally impactful?

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jul 22 at 2020 6:58 PM

2020-07-22T18:58:41-04:00

Look, you are deployed probably OCONUS. The unit is the approval authority for all leaves. Immediate Family, is not the same as spouse/children. Diagnose is not always same as giving someone 2-4 weeks til death. You can visit higher CoC, but you probably will stay deployed.