What should I do if I am not allowed to take emergency leave because my S-1 didn't update my loco parentis from our SRP?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 10:35:21 -0500

I’m currently forward deployed to a area and I received a Red Cross message. The person that’s passed is my Uncle but he qualifies as my parent because he’s helped raise me from birth to the time I left the house for the military. Under the same roof and everything. The higher ups in my chain of command are denying my emergency leave because they said he’s not on my loco parentis when I know for a fact that he is. S-1 didn’t update from SRP. So know their saying that I can’t take my emergency leave. Is this it? Is this where I should let it end or is their something else that’s possible for me to do to take my emergency leave??

Any help is welcome

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Feb 19 at 2021 11:03 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 11:03:06 -0500

LTC Kevin B. - do you have any thoughts on this as a senior leader? As an operations NCO I had to deal with something similar but my records were on lock and I was able to get the troop home from Iraq within 48 hours. Not sure what to do when the paperwork is jacked up.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2021 11:18 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 11:18:36 -0500

Whether your uncle is your loco parentis or not you're not "entitled" to emergency leave. You are "authorized" to take emergency leave when a parent or loco parentis passes. Your commander can deny emergency leave for whatever reason they feel is necessary if there is a practical reason. We've had Soldiers missing parents funerals all over the country because of COVID restrictions.

So, the problem here isn't your S1 or your uncles loco parentis status, because that doesn't guarantee you can take emergency leave. There is only one person who decides whether or not you can take emergency leave and that's your commander. He can deny your emergency leave even if it's your parents and he can approve it even if it's not your parent. State your case to your commander. There is no other person who can approve or deny your leave and there's no way around that

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Feb 19 at 2021 1:00 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 13:00:32 -0500

Commanders have final authority to approve/deny leave to include emergency leave. If this is just a paper drill where the information isn't filled out correctly work with your leadership and S-1 if updating the paperwork will scratch the itch. But you need to verify whether this is the Commander making the call as they see it or if the paperwork wasn't filled out correctly. If the Commander is denying it because they decided that's their ability to do so.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Feb 19 at 2021 3:14 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 15:14:39 -0500

P.S. When creating a fake profile, at least make it believable. A SPC is a squad leader in the Ranger Regiment? That is a little hard to swallow. Maybe a Team Leader. Or maybe a Squad Leader in a really short-staffed regular line Company. Either of those would stretch things, but not unbelievably so. SL in the regiment as a SPC is too far.

Response by 1SG John Highfill made Feb 20 at 2021 1:26 PM

1SG John Highfill — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 13:26:50 -0500

Get in touch with the red cross

Response by MSG William Cunningham made Feb 20 at 2021 8:46 PM

MSG William Cunningham — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 20:46:40 -0500

So much for “People First”.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Feb 25 at 2021 7:16 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 19:16:16 -0500

Red Cross, Congressman.