What regulation covers taking terminal leave when your unit is scheduled to deploy?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 May 2020 14:02:42 -0400

I ETS July of 2021. I’m looking to use my Terminal leave and leave sometime at the end of April or beginning of may. My unit is suppose to deploy sometime next year and I was wondering what the regulation is on that and how it would work with me ETSing?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 22 at 2020 2:26 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 22 May 2020 14:26:34 -0400

The same regulation that governs ordinary leave. Leave is up to the Commander. Make a plan and work it with the COC. There might be a unit or installation policy on terminal leave, but the regulation leaves it to commanders to manage. Army Regulation 600–8–10

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2020 4:40 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 May 2020 16:40:50 -0400

Leave is the commanders policy. You technically could submit for leave and it be denied and you could ETS without taking any leave.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2020 5:39 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 May 2020 17:39:07 -0400

AR 600-8-10.
Like any leave, it needs to be approved by the commander.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made May 22 at 2020 5:45 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Fri, 22 May 2020 17:45:55 -0400

Don't share your deployment date here, but usually there is an EAS cut off for deployments. If they deploy any later then Jan, you may fall into that group. Have you spoken to your SNCO about this?

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made May 24 at 2020 9:30 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sun, 24 May 2020 09:30:28 -0400

Unless they are related, they are completely separate.
What I mean by that is that unless the unit decides to use you in a critical deployment role, in which case you would likely end up involuntarily extended (stop loss), your leave is not affected by their deployment. The unit will already count you as a readiness loss, and you should be allowed to ETS like normal. (Working your SFL-TAP process may be more difficult, because you *will* be expected to support the unit and help push them iut the door - baggage details, packing containers, inventories, etc. Start early to allow yourself time to work around unit schedule.)
That being said, as has been mentioned already, the Commander *can* deny leave for any reason or no reason at all. No Commander worth the title will deny it for no reason, and all Commanders I have seen (even the shitty ones) will approve terminal leave if they can do so within their mission requirements. That is not a guarantee, but your chances are high. And they are even higher if you have that conversation with your CoC NOW. They will give you better and more accurate info than we will - they know the specifics of the deployment, the unit, your role, and the unit's expectations of you.