Is it true that the Army is changing the amount of terminal leave days that a person can take from 60 days down to 30 after this fiscal year?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 May 2018 01:44:45 -0400

There is a rumor that the army is changing the amount of terminal leave days that a person can take from 60 days down to 30 after this fiscal year. Is there any truth to this? This is important because i am trying to take all 60 days of terminal leave so that i can attend the spring semester
on time at the college i will be attending.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2018 9:56 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 May 2018 09:56:49 -0400

I have not heard that one I would not worry about that. I would get your lave form completed now.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 28 at 2018 10:53 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Mon, 28 May 2018 10:53:16 -0400

Rumors are rumors- not confirmed, not particularly the truth. Until it is published and the effective date is given, your guess is as good as anyone else's.

Response by MAJ Hugh Blanchard made May 28 at 2018 12:22 PM

MAJ Hugh Blanchard — Mon, 28 May 2018 12:22:51 -0400

Minor point - It's now called transition leave vice terminal leave.

Response by SSgt David Marks made May 28 at 2018 1:39 PM

SSgt David Marks — Mon, 28 May 2018 13:39:36 -0400

It would not surprise me, I know over the years I was in the USAF leave police and retirements were altered many times, especially if we were involved in some kind of conflict, or were under a terrorist threat. I saw several retirement plans be canceled by the military because of conflicts, or severe shortages in that particular career field, I have also seen terminal leave request be denied. So all you can do is submit the request and wait to see what happens.

Response by SSgt Robert Prest made May 28 at 2018 7:33 PM

SSgt Robert Prest — Mon, 28 May 2018 19:33:02 -0400

I retired from over seas. Got 90 days.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2018 7:41 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 19:41:54 -0400

I have not heard anything about changing the amount of leave days one can take, but leave is all at the commander's discretion. In your case paragraph 5-16 of AR 635-200 may be of some use. "5–16. Early separation to further education Soldiers may be discharged or released from active duty for the convenience of the Government, up to 90 days before ETS,in order to attend a specific term at college, university, vocational school, or technical school. "

Response by MSgt Stephen Council made Nov 1 at 2019 11:21 AM

MSgt Stephen Council — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 11:21:04 -0400

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Leave is a Congressional entitlement to the services. One service cannot make unilateral changes to the rules. Stop listening to barracks lawyers and ask your competent leadership. They will give you an answer or get you one.

Response by SPC Ben Pierce made Jan 9 at 2020 12:41 PM

SPC Ben Pierce — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 12:41:35 -0500

This doesn't sound right. There wasn't a 60 day limit to begin with (at least not in a regulation). My guess is, 60 days is a general rule of thumb for your unit because you don't fall off of your commander's MTOE until you actually ETS, meaning he can't fill your slot until your leave is over.

That being said, I'm in a shop of only 6 dudes that service a brigade's worth of intel equipment, and I just got 70 days approved.

Also I just realized this is a year old, lol, but in case anyone else is checking. Your leave is a right, not a privilege. It is prescribed to you by Army Regulation. While your chain of command can decide when you can take it, they cannot ultimately decide "if" you can take it. If you've been requesting leave and it keeps getting denied, and you can show that you've been flexible, I would implore you to take that up your CoC. There is an article, and I can't remember which one so do some digging, (maybe article 131, 130?) that says, (I'm gonna butcher this, but the concept is what's important) something along the lines of "If a commander is to deny terminal leave, they have to show in writing justification for preventing a soldier from utilizing their leave days" (i.e. your job/position is so crucial to the unit at that time that the mission would be a failure were you to not be present). A soldier in my unit last year had 89 days denied, then referenced this article (and our Company Commander helped her take it up the chain) and she was ultimately on terminal leave for 89 days. Know the regulation, speak with tact and respect, and don't give up.