What happens if you get CONUS leave approved, but you go OCONUS and get caught?

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 23:45:36 -0500

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2019 11:51 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 23:51:19 -0500

Ok. Interesting question. The address on the leave form is where you "should" be when on leave. However. If you go somewhere else, well....no one can stop you. I mean...you're on leave. Here is what you should do. If you plan on heading overseas while on leave, then you best update your NCOs/Chain of Command before you even leave the country. That way they know where you're at in case they need to get in touch with you. Me personally, if you were my troop, I would tell you to have fun (depending on the country/countries visited) as long as you kept me up to date as to where you were and how to reach you. If you get in trouble with your current unit...I can't even even begin to guess how they could/would burn you.

By the phrasing of your question....did you run into someone from your unit while OCONUS?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2019 12:18 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 00:18:41 -0500

What happens when you lie and intentionally circumvent rules and procedures meant to keep you safe?
If you're lucky, UCMJ. If you're unlucky, you'll find yourself afoul of the law or in an international incident while your Commanders explain to your Division General why you're in a Tijuana prison as the US Ambassador is trying to get you released.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2019 2:31 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 02:31:46 -0500

And Soldiers wonder why they get in to trouble....

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Dec 4 at 2019 3:33 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 03:33:23 -0500

It all depends:
1. Potential for UCMJ
2. Of cool leadership, nothing
3. Is there a requirement for country briefing?

At the end of the day you deal with as much heat as you can handle!

Response by MSG Gary Eckert made Dec 4 at 2019 4:58 AM

MSG Gary Eckert — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 04:58:50 -0500

Are you a spy? Maybe it’s because I served during the Cold War but that was my first thought on why you would avoid telling your Chain of Command your whereabouts. I guess in today’s Army it would be are you an insider threat? At minimum your unit should suspend your clearance pending an investigation. Depending on what that investigation determines as your motivation for failing to comply with the regulations, it could result in anything from a counseling statement to a Court Martial.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2019 6:21 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 06:21:30 -0500

Why wouldn't you just request to go to the actual location you want to go to for leave?
It's not that much more extra work.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2019 7:57 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 07:57:46 -0500

It would be bad.

Also, there’s an entirely separate process to get approved for oconus leave that includes some S2 folks and additional paperwork

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Dec 4 at 2019 8:31 AM

MSgt Michael Smith — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 08:31:17 -0500

Why even ask? You're probably going to get nonjudicial punishment at the least. There is a reason for that question on a leave form. It has to do with security and making sure you have the proper information available to you if you are leaving the country. Not to mention knowing where you are and where you are going.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2019 8:40 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 08:40:06 -0500

Don't, just don't do it.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 4 at 2019 10:23 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 10:23:01 -0500

You don't have "CONUS leave" approved...That's not a thing.
You have LEAVE approved. You're not restricted to the address on your form. You're on leave. So long as you don't go to a prohibited country, you can circumnavigate the globe in a hot air balloon if you'd like and that's perfectly fine.
We aren't limited to the address on the form. Just make sure your number is good and your contactable.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2019 10:37 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 10:37:48 -0500

when you go on leave you dont have to stay at whatever address your leave form says. You can go wherever you want while on leave long as you are still able to be contacted. I got my leave approved not too long ago for christmas and new years but im not staying at home the whole time even though it says im going home. Just show back up on the date you have to come back lol

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Dec 4 at 2019 10:45 AM

GySgt Kenneth Pepper — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 10:45:40 -0500

You will never be allowed to go on leave again. Ever.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2019 11:27 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 11:27:35 -0500

Why are you asking this question? If you have not already been caught, you need to ask your leadership if you can go to the country that you desire to go to.

Response by SFC Robert Walton made Dec 5 at 2019 1:55 PM

SFC Robert Walton — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 13:55:12 -0500

Not enough info so best to ask your Chain Of Command. Plus I am not sure but are you AD or NG or some thing? Usually the admin section for AD has a limit list on places you can and can't travel to not to mention I think you have to have a passport for most OCONUS.

Something I needed to add your address of where you are going on leave is a two fold thing like if you fail to return that gives people a place to start looking to find you, just as important is if the COC needs to contact you about something really important family member issue they can do so. Last but not if you need called back because of a attack on America they know where you are so they can estimate your reasonable travel time back to duty station. Or a ton of other things just does not make sense go somewhere not reasonably close to the address on your DA Form-31. I checked your profile and I can guess what is going on this is not a good idea. Tell your Chain of Command where your going and get the right address on your paper work. What it appears you are doing will be considered AWOL and is punishable under UCMJ.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2019 3:52 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 15:52:40 -0500

Seriously?

Response by SFC Robert Walton made Dec 6 at 2019 10:28 AM

SFC Robert Walton — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 10:28:23 -0500

If you haven't already done this someone should be calling your unit and have your leave cancelled before you get in real trouble.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Dec 11 at 2019 9:18 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 09:18:55 -0500

There are at least two things that are involved in a SM's lawful ability to travel outside the US. local policy from MACOM on down to company (and those policies may differ, be more or less restrictive)
And
Restrictions or tasks to be completed set forth in the Foreign Clearance Guide https://www.fcg.pentagon.mil/fcg.cfm (Note you can not access that from a personal computer with jumping though hoops, 2nd note, crusty old Army guys like me can no longer access it at all, so I cant say what those restrictions are, nor the tasks to be completed for travel to any specific country)
in 28 years, I never saw a local leave policy that did not require something "extra" if leaving the country, commonly it was clearly stating the county's to be visited on the DA31 and a visit to the S2 for briefings or tasks to be completed.

DoD Electronic Foreign Clearance Guide

A new FCG login authentication process has been implemented for ALL non-.mil/.gov domain users. In order to access the FCG website, users will need to login using their existing APACS account or request a separate new FCG account via the APACS authentication process.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Dec 11 at 2019 7:28 PM

1SG Dennis Hicks — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 19:28:16 -0500

Unless a troop is hell bent on destroying their future so very early on he/she should keep the amount of poor decisions to a minimum. Asking what a punishment is before violating regulations, policies and directives is a recipe for an early discharge.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 11 at 2019 8:45 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 20:45:10 -0500

There are rules, policies, and regulations in place for a reason. As I’m reading some of the comments it just amazes me how people are saying you can go wherever you want it’s your leave. News flash!!! There are regulatory guidance for CONUS and OCONUS leave!! We are all in the Military, we know the are policies in place for our own safety!! The moment we start telling Soldiers to do what they want to do versus following regulatory guidance is the moment we fail our Soldiers.

If you knew you were going OCONUS you should have talked to your NCO to find out if their is a policy in place in your organization which lay out the proper procedures for OCONUS leave. You can’t use the excuse you didn’t know because I’m sure you have access to google so you could have googled OCONUS leave and found the correct regulation that governs leaves and passes.....

The moment you put an address on your form and you knew you were not going to that location, you lied...period. If you can’t be honest about something that simple then explain to me how your command suppose to believe in you when it’s something major.

You coming on here asking this question means you already knew you did the wrong thing. Word of advice...if you intend on making a career in the Military, exercise integrity at all times not just when people are with you.

Good luck to you....

Response by CPL Joseph Elinger made Dec 24 at 2019 12:51 PM

CPL Joseph Elinger — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 12:51:00 -0500

LOL!
During my Nov 1996 Basic we had 2 guys who kind of did, but had to problems on "in transit & holiday."
1 said he married, his new wife still in Cuba (where he was from). He told The Drill Sargeants he: "married her by fax." They chose not to worry; That's going be on him when he adds her as a Dependent. Like they say: "Not my problem!"
The other guy went to visit his Wife & 6 children living in Italy. They gathered when we had a wall locker inspection & they asked him about the Italian coins. Again, no harm no foul, "no problem."

Response by SPC Chris Ison made Dec 29 at 2019 3:06 PM

SPC Chris Ison — Sun, 29 Dec 2019 15:06:22 -0500

Depends on the chain of command really.

If this is an official policy written down somewhere, then it is violation of a lawful order.

I was never asked where I was going in the Navy, and as far as I know it was 100% okay to go OCONUS, if you had the proper travel documents and as long as you came home on time, there was not a problem. If now your flight was canceled and you did not allot say a week for travel home and were stuck in Greece, shit could get hairy then.