What are the procedures for army soldiers requesting leave?

2022-02-25T13:22:07-05:00

This is part rant and question. Quick back story. My son went to basic in late summer 2020. Due to covid, no family day or graduation for him, but we were allowed to pick him up for Christmas and spent about 10 days before he had to knave and report for ait. After ait, he left straight for South Korea. In December 2021 he put in a request for leave in March 2022. His packet made it to battalion where it sat until 10 days ago. Battalion sent it back to company level to be updated since it had sat so long. Company 1st Sgt has sat on it since then. My son talked to his platoon sgt who said he would get back to him. Now my son is being told he needs to revise his leave date by 7 or 14 days. I'm sorry thats bs. My wife and I both took off 3 weeks to be able to visit, my oldest son is in the Army too and was able to get leave for the same time as well. I know this is the army. I know how their stupidity works. But how the heck is 7 days or 14 days going to make a difference to them when it makes a huge difference to my son. To me it sounds like pure laziness on the senior enlisted leadership to me.

Response by PFC Duane Snell made Feb 25 at 2022 1:24 PM

2022-02-25T13:24:37-05:00

I apologize for my poor grammar. I have fat fingers and autocorrect is horrible

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2022 1:36 PM

2022-02-25T13:36:39-05:00

To me, this sounds like failed leadership from his first line leader. Whenever leave is submitted, it's his NCOs job to check up on it periodically. Especially since the time of submission to time of action was 3 months, it makes even more sense to have a need to check.

The great thing about the military is that you either learn or you continue to make mistakes. Hopefully this one is enough of a pain to make it a learning experience and your son doesn't have this issue again.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2022 2:07 PM

2022-02-25T14:07:23-05:00

Leave is at the discretion of the Commander. The Commander has to look at personnel taking/requesting Leave and when they want it. They then have to compare that to mission requirements for manning. If your son was wanting more than 2 weeks, but if the Command Policy for S. Korea is no more than 2 weeks, then that is why your son is being told (more than likely) he needs to adjust his Leave days. I have no answer as to why folks sat on his Leave request for so long, however.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Feb 25 at 2022 2:59 PM

2022-02-25T14:59:24-05:00

Not sure why 1SG would have it. Back in my days as a company clerk and a soldier wanted leave, he would come to me and I would type up a 31 and the soldier would sign, and I would put in the old man's in box. Usually 2 or 3 days later it would be in my in box. I would then put it in the solder's platoon distribution box. I made a note of the date leave was to start and his name and SN, so that I would check the sign-out sheet to make sure he left and then put on the DA-1 from Duty to absent leave.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 25 at 2022 3:41 PM

2022-02-25T15:41:32-05:00

1. Your profile says you served in the Army. SO you should know how it works. 2. You folks were rathe naïve to plan anything until the paperwork was approved 3. It is the Co's decision on leave- how much, when, where, etc. Damn near no Co will approve more than 15 days unless you are PCS or ETS. 4, His PSG?1SG failed him and he failed himself by not keeping tabs on his leave request.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Feb 25 at 2022 4:06 PM

2022-02-25T16:06:45-05:00

Sone of this sounds like your Son dropped the ball on the leave timing. As for taking more than two weeks that is a readiness issue for All organizations, let alone overseas. While it is not unheard of, it is unusual to take more than two weeks leave without a special circumstance.

I will also say that there are policies, not stupidity. Why on earth would anyone spend money on something before they knew that the leave was approved.

Since you brought up COVID, that too has crimped readiness for units. These are tough times and your Son is forward deployed.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Feb 25 at 2022 4:12 PM

2022-02-25T16:12:39-05:00

Leave requests over 2 weeks get scrutinized a lot and take a while to process because the Unit is looking at unit strength. Squeaky wheels get the grease but even then over 2 weeks is a big ask. I can't speak to the delay but the first line leadership should have been pushing it more. But the warning that a 30 day request may get reduced or denied outright is a conversation that should have occurred.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2022 5:10 PM

2022-02-25T17:10:15-05:00

That sounds like a typical Army company quite honestly. I've had units where leave gets processed quickly and seen others where anything that goes to the company disappears into some black hole.

It probably is pure laziness actually if the 1SG is just sitting on it and not giving it to the approval authority.

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Feb 26 at 2022 2:18 AM

2022-02-26T02:18:52-05:00

Sounds like "upper management" needs a plexiotomy. You son's chain of command is filled with leaderless personnel who appear to be suffering from "Rectal Cranial Inversion". The leave system is not difficult to manage.