Army Reserve: Active Duty
Benefit Fact Sheet
Summary
Time away from duties and training is critical for the continued well-being of Soldiers. The Army provides a number of benefits to provide Soldiers opportunities for time away from their jobs.
On March 29, 2023, the Department of Defense announced a new non-chargeable, paid bereavement leave benefit for Service members who suffer the loss of their Spouse or Child.
Directive-type Memorandum 23-003 –"Bereavement Leave for Service Members" implements the policy and procedures for the administration of bereavement leave for Service members across the Department of Defense. The new leave benefit is authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022.
In accordance with Section 701(l) of Title 10, U.S.C., a member who experiences such a loss will be allowed up to 14 days of leave to be used in connection with the death of a Spouse or Child. A member with less than 30 days of accrued ordinary leave may be authorized bereavement leave for this purpose. Authority to grant bereavement leave will be extended to unit commanders.
Implementation of Bereavement Leave
Immediate Effect: A Service member whose Spouse or Child dies on or after DTM-23-003 effective date, and who was charged leave in connection with such death, may request such leave be restored through the process established by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned. Such leave will be restored if the Service member would have been eligible for bereavement leave as described in DTM-23-003.
Retroactive Period: A Service member whose Spouse or Child died on or after June 25, 2022, and before DTM-23-003 effective date, and who was charged leave in connection with such death, may request such leave be restored through the process established by the Secretary of the Military Department concerned. Such leave will be restored if the Service member would have been eligible for bereavement leave as described in DTM-23-003 and the member has not separated or retired from active service before the effective date of DTM-23-003.
Eligibility
A Service member whose Spouse or Child dies on or after June 25, 2022 and who has fewer than 30 days of accrued ordinary leave on the date of such death is eligible for bereavement leave.
A Service member whose Spouse or Child dies on or after June 25, 2022 and who has 30 or more days of accrued ordinary leave on the date of such death is eligible for bereavement leave once their accrued ordinary leave is less than 30 days.
For more detailed information, refer to DTM-23-003 (Bereavement Leave for Service Members)
Eligibility
Members of the Army Reserve serving on active duty or initial active duty for training, or active duty training for a period of 30 or more consecutive days for which they are entitled to pay, are eligible to participate in the various leave programs.
Benefit Highlights
The following sections summarize various types of absence available for active duty Soldiers. As with any job, mission requirements, duty assignment or training requirements may require Soldiers to work on certain holidays and weekends. These requirements may also impact the scheduling of annual leave.
Annual Leave: Active duty Soldiers earn 2.5 days of annual (chargeable) leave for each month of service, for a total of 30 days per year. Currently, Soldiers can bank up to 60 days of leave at the end of the fiscal year. Any additional days above 60 days are forfeited at the beginning of the next fiscal year (October 1). Each Soldier has an individual responsibility to monitor and manage their leave. Current leave balances are recorded on the Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) which can be viewed at myPay.
Special Leave Accrual:
Soldiers serving in hostile fire or imminent danger pay areas (combat zone) for 120 days or more can accumulate and carry over up to 120 days of leave (60 days of ordinary leave, plus 60 days of SLA) into the next fiscal year. SLA-protected leave appears in the Remarks section of Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) as "Combat Zone LV Carryover Bal" along with the expiration date. SLA protection ends either on the expiration date or when a Soldier's current leave balance (Cr Bal) drops to 60 days or less. SLA days cannot be sold and are lost if not used before their expiration date.
By law, 120 days is the maximum leave that can be carried over into a new fiscal year with SLA protection
SLA is the only mechanism by which more than 60 days can be carried over into a new fiscal year.
Leave Sell Back: Enlisted personnel with more than 120 days of leave accrued may, on a one-time basis, sell back up to 30 days of leave in excess of the 120-day limit. Such leave sell back counts against the 60-days active duty Soldiers may sell during their military career.
Additional Information
For more information on these leave programs and other programs that may be available, please review Army Regulation 600-8-10, Leaves and Passes:
https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN30018-AR_600-8-10-000-WEB-1.pdf
Leaves and Passes Homepage:
https://www.hrc.army.mil/tagd/leaves%20and%20passes
DoD Instruction NUMBER 1327.06 regarding Leave and Liberty Policy and Procedures:
https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/132706p.pdf
DoD 7000.14-R, "Department of Defense Financial Management Regulations (FMRs)," Volume 7A, "Military Pay Policy and Procedures - Active Duty and Reserve Pay:
https://comptroller.defense.gov/FMR.aspx
Document Review Date: 22 February 2023
My expertise lies in military benefits and policies, particularly within the realm of the Army Reserve and active duty provisions. In the realm of military leave and benefits, my familiarity spans various directives and regulations, such as Army Regulation 600-8-10 governing Leaves and Passes, along with Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction NUMBER 1327.06 on Leave and Liberty Policy and Procedures.
Regarding the specific content about the Army Reserve and active duty benefits, several key elements are highlighted:
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Bereavement Leave for Service Members: This recent benefit, announced on March 29, 2023, allows up to 14 days of non-chargeable, paid bereavement leave for soldiers who suffer the loss of their spouse or child. It's authorized under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 and administered via Directive-type Memorandum 23-003.
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Implementation of Bereavement Leave: The immediate effect and retroactive period for service members who lost their spouse or child are outlined, allowing for the restoration of leave if certain criteria are met.
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Eligibility for Bereavement Leave: It hinges on the date of death and the accrued ordinary leave of the service member at the time of the loss.
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Annual Leave: Active duty soldiers accrue 2.5 days of annual leave per month of service, totaling 30 days per year. They can bank up to 60 days, but any excess days are forfeited at the beginning of the fiscal year.
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Special Leave Accrual (SLA): Soldiers in hostile fire or imminent danger pay areas can accrue and carry over up to 120 days of leave (60 days ordinary + 60 days SLA) into the next fiscal year. SLA days have expiration dates and certain restrictions.
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Leave Sell Back: Enlisted personnel can sell back up to 30 days of leave in excess of the 120-day limit, but this counts against the total number of days (60 days) they can sell during their military career.
To delve deeper into the specifics, the provided links to official documents like AR 600-8-10, DoD Instruction 1327.06, and DoD 7000.14-R provide comprehensive details about these leave programs, their policies, and procedures for active duty and reserve personnel.
The information isn't just about benefits; it's also about the nuances of eligibility, accrual, and utilization, ensuring soldiers understand their entitlements and responsibilities regarding leave.
