PCS order: How many leave days can be use while in TDY en-route assignment?

2021-07-10T12:42:53-04:00

Hi, currently, I am in TDY En-route status and will be done for the training on 09/17/2021. After graduating from the training, I know they give us travel dates depending on where you are going for the next duty station. In my case, I am TDY en-route from CONUS to OCONUS. However, can I use my leave days with the conjunction of travel dates? I want to use leave for 26 days. Since I have 86.5 leave days at this point, I need to use at least 26 days before the new fiscal year approaches and reset the leave time.

For example, On 09/17/2021, I travel back with my POV to the CONUS area, where I departed before TDY in TX. After that, I will clear everything in the area (Rent, housing, Transportation, and such) and spend with my family in the states (try to use the max leave possible). My dependents are still in the area that I left, so I need to pick them up. My report date is 10/18/2021, which is a month later than the graduation date.

I am not a subject matter expert in HR, so I need to know how it usually works in my case. In addition, I already read AR 600-8-10 chapter 8 portion, but I am still confused or unclear about my case. I appreciate that any S1 or an expert knowledge personal in this area can advise on this. Thanks.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2021 12:51 PM

2021-07-10T12:51:31-04:00

2LT Private RallyPoint Member Can't help with your question... just wanted to wish you the best in your training, travel, & your Military experience.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2021 1:22 PM

2021-07-10T13:22:09-04:00

It's actually very simple. You will have a DA 31 covering you from your graduation to your report date. The days that you are authorized for travel, one day for travel to OCONUS and one day for return from TDY, you will not be charged leave for. The rest of the days till you report will be charged from your leave. There is no maximum amount of leave days you can take

You are only authorized one day travel for TDY. Yes you are driving your car but you're only authorized one travel day and if it takes longer it has to be covered by your leave. Same for OCONUS travel.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2021 5:59 AM

2021-07-11T05:59:11-04:00

As said before, short answer is yes. As long as you report by your report date, you can fill in the gap with whatever leave you want to take, or report early. This also includes permissive tdy, which is often called "free leave". The leave fotm has a line for "chargeable leave" and a block to be more specific of those dates. With all that use/lose I'd imagine that hardly matters, however permissive tdy has some per-diem that goes along with it, so make sure to fit that in there. If you lose leave, you lose leave, but I'd certainly take PTDY over trying to burn off some use/lose. Provided of course it's being utilized for its intended purpose ;)

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2021 6:02 AM

2021-07-11T06:02:58-04:00

Also, people get wound up on "I've got to use this leave!" like there's some consequence to it. Nothing happens except you lose it, as the name implies. Ideally of course we want to use the time off we earn, but burning days just to burn days when you can be taking permissive tdy is just silly, and if schools and such crunch up against fiscal year, it is what it is.

Response by SMSgt Bob W. made Jul 11 at 2021 3:07 PM

2021-07-11T15:07:18-04:00

You can take all you have IF you make your TDY dates and PCS dates. Of course that is with a Commander's approval.

Response by MAJ Roland McDonald made Jul 11 at 2021 11:05 PM

2021-07-11T23:05:21-04:00

Their appears to be a special exemption to the max 60 days to a max 120 till sep 2023....

COVID-19 special leave accrual update
The Department of Defense recognizes that the COVID-19 national emergency has significantly limited service members’ ability to take leave. The department also recognizes that leave is vital to health and welfare. That’s why Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Matthew Donovan signed a department-wide authorization on April 16, 2020, for service members to accrue and retain an additional leave balance of up to 120 days. Members performing active service from March 11, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2020, can accrue leave up to 120 days and retain unused leave until Sept. 30, 2023.