Question on leave

[pterrell]

I know for the Marine Corps you can go on recruiter's assistance instead of leave.

Has nothing to do with what the op asked...

Op, take it up your chain of command. Start with your NCOs and work your way up. If you have a valid reason for not taking leave it most likely will be accepted. Personally, I've never heard of a mandatory leave block besides pre or post deployment leave. Sounds more like they're trying to push junior soldiers to go home for Christmas.

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[SoldierLife7]

Has nothing to do with what the op asked...

Op, take it up your chain of command. Start with your NCOs and work your way up. If you have a valid reason for not taking leave it most likely will be accepted. Personally, I've never heard of a mandatory leave block besides pre or post deployment leave. Sounds more like they're trying to push junior soldiers to go home for Christmas.

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That is sound advice!

[pterrell]

That is sound advice!

I had good teachers lol

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[SGT Loco]

Just thought I'd throw an update in here since everything is done and over with.

I weighed my options, talked it over with some of my team, and ended up just taking the leave, plus a couple of days I actually wanted. My concession to defiance was submitting two leave forms- one for the days I wanted and one for the days I was forced to take, which I noted in the comments block were days mandated to me by ______ command, not days I was personally requesting. Nobody said anything about it so I just woo-saaaa'd and let it go.

So, fast forward to the day before I go on leave, and apparently someone (not me) was upset enough about the situation to take it to IG. IG started reviewing the command who (again apparently) insisted everyone's leave was voluntary, and then went through everyone's DA31's. Obviously, in doing so they came across my form with the comment block.

From what I heard, and this is just RUMINT, the upper echelons of my CoC got a decent *** chewing, but I have no idea to what extent. I do know that **** rolled down hill all the way to me. Officially, it was because none of my NCO chain or OIC reviewed the paperwork I submitted before signing off on it, and of course unofficially it was for making the upper echelons look bad. After talking about it with some of my NCO chain, they're on my side anyway (at least up to the regional level)- I didn't say anything untruthful, and if it made command look bad it's because they were doing something they didn't want to be caught doing and didn't bother reviewing the paper trail they signed off on, and not because I did anything wrong.

I got a verbal slap on the wrist, a "don't do it again" with a wink and a nod, and I think it's pretty much blown over since. Of course, the COL knows my name now.

I can't say I'm entirely happy about it still (some people were far more wronged than I was- angry enough and ignored enough to involve IG) but it all could have been much worse for everyone. First world/Garrison problems. Thanks to everyone who gave their input.

[BDR529]

Personally, I wouldn't have been so lax with MY leave. They can't force you to take leave (unless it's use it or lose it, which was clearly not the case) And, from what I read, you're now in the negative with your leave. Never a good position to be in! Honestly, you probably should have just taken it to your NCO's and I'm sure something could have been worked out. You definitely wouldn't have gone to a courts martial or gotten kicked out for not signing the paper, but still, this all could have been avoided by prior action. Yes, you only got a slap on the wrist, but essentially by complaining about it under your breath with a small comment on a leave chit, you were basically jumping your chain of command. It's good that nothing that bad came from it, but it could have been handled a lot better IMHO. Just my 2 cents from someone in the Navy...

[TATER313]

There was a use it or lose it I don't remember the exact number.

[pterrell]

There was a use it or lose it I don't remember the exact number.

Max accrual right now, at least for me, is set at 49 days.

[SGT Loco]

Personally, I wouldn't have been so lax with MY leave. They can't force you to take leave (unless it's use it or lose it, which was clearly not the case) And, from what I read, you're now in the negative with your leave. Never a good position to be in! Honestly, you probably should have just taken it to your NCO's and I'm sure something could have been worked out. You definitely wouldn't have gone to a courts martial or gotten kicked out for not signing the paper, but still, this all could have been avoided by prior action. Yes, you only got a slap on the wrist, but essentially by complaining about it under your breath with a small comment on a leave chit, you were basically jumping your chain of command. It's good that nothing that bad came from it, but it could have been handled a lot better IMHO. Just my 2 cents from someone in the Navy...

Believe me, it was definitely brought up through our chain of command. I don't think a single person in the region was happy with the arrangement, but we were flat out told to suck it up.

I decided at the time, as burnt out as I already was, it was just better for my sanity to take the time off, whatever the circumstances, and settle for letting my discontent with the decision be known both verbally and through my written comment.

[HappyCamper781]

You handled it the right way.

[Funtimes]

You cannot be forced to take leave. You must be provided an opportunity to take it however, a reasonable opportunity. I've never - once - taken leave during a stand down or generally labeled " no work period." I've felt it was stupid and a waste of time. Why would I take days off to sit at home, especially if there is absolutely nothing for me to do at work. I can go in, check in with the staff duty officer, and then leave!

Anyone that asked, I would simply tell them, "Last I checked Sir, this is my leave. Feel free to the deny the request if you insist. Just make sure the Commanding Officer denies it too."

I've been cheated out of leave; I've had E-7s, 8s, and 9s, make up their own damn policies, just because they were getting their asses chewed for too many guys having use / lose.

Leave is earned; it's a right; it's guaranteed - and it's yours.

[coryhenry]

As a former CO CDR and future BN CDR, that policy is not legal. A CDR cannot force leave. Use or lose if the only official policy to get rid of leave and its paid out. I would think proper routing would be CoC then IG if it wasn't resolved. Another option for the CDR is to give 4 day passes non consecutively.

[Stanksbeamen]

Sounds like you did what you could, I was going to say check with your legal office or something similar. As others have mentioned I have not heard of anyone being forced to take leave?! My next suggestion would of been the IG, good thing someone did. This year our commander authorized 2 4-day passes but we had to come sign in and show face in the middle and then start another 4 day pass. Max accrued leave in the USAF right now is 75 but I believe its going back down to 60 as we draw down. I had 80 at the start of this year, most I've ever had.

[tnlrat37]

The only time most of us were allowed to take leave was before or after deployments. 2 times I took leave and never turned in the papers, they didn't count it I did recruiters assistance also to keep from using it another time. Got out 3 months early on terminal leave, that was mid 90s though

[Funtimes]

The only time most of us were allowed to take leave was before or after deployments. 2 times I took leave and never turned in the papers, they didn't count it I did recruiters assistance also to keep from using it another time. Got out 3 months early on terminal leave, that was mid 90s though

Yeah there gets to be a point when the CO would have to justify why he really, really cannot let you go. It's going to have to be better than their made up reasons. Most of them are good (the CO's). I have had more problem with Department head level officers who don't want to go to the CO to get something or don't want him involved; I don't blame them, they look stupid if they can't handle a leave situation. That said, SVC members need to be aware that workups can be important and so can inspections / examinations. Additionally, watchbills can be stressed and strained (although that's not the service members problem).

The only negative thing to most of this, is when you start bucking, be sure to know that it will reflect on your evals in the future. Luckily, as a submariner, we advance quickly and it's based on testing / qualifications / education for the most part. Because of that, I didn't care what my evals said. I did my job. More importantly I did it well. Probably was the only thing that kept me from getting hammered lol. I did make E-6 in just over six years.

The other thing to watch out for, which really pissed me off, and I'm not sure if the Army even has it, is the rules on combining "special liberty" and "leave." I've been told that if I wanted Monday - Friday off that I would have to take the Friday before and come back the Monday after; this is so not true it makes me ill. Watching guys get charged five extra days of leave for no reason really, really made me furious.

[19K]

I wouldn't have taken it. Rear d is pretty fun. Haha. The only leave I took during my time was the 2 weeks free mandatory R&R and the 30 days off after deployment. All my other "mandatory block leaves" they tried to make I told them no. I wasn't going to spend $500 to go home for 2 weeks and I wasn't going to spend my leave in the barracks. So I stayed in rear d.

Took 67 days of terminal leave. Lolol