R 301946Z AUG 07
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL MARADMIN(UC)
UNCLAS
MARADMIN 516/07
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA/MP//
SUBJ/MCBUL 1050. SPECIAL LEAVE ACCRUAL (SLA) GUIDANCE FOR FISCAL /YEAR 2007 (FY07)//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/TITLE 10, U.S.C., SECTION 701/-// REF/B/MSGID:DOC/USD PR/22APR2005//
REF/C/MSGID:DOC/CMC MP/04FEB2000//
NARR/REF A IS LEAVE ENTITLEMENT AND ACCUMULATION. REF B IS DOD INSTRUCTION 1327.6, LEAVE AND LIBERTY PROCEDURES. REF C IS MCO P1050.3H, REGULATIONS FOR LEAVE, LIBERTY, AND ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE.//
POC/P. T. MORGAN/MAJ/MPO-40/-/TEL:DSN 278-9387/TEL:COM (703)784-9387//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE. TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE CONCERNING SLA FOR FY07.
2. BACKGROUND. THE REFS PROVIDE SLA GUIDANCE FOR MARINES UNDER SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING NATIONAL EMERGENCIES/CRISIS OR OPERATIONS IN DEFENSE OF NATIONAL SECURITY. ACTIVE DUTY MARINES AND RESERVE COMPONENT MARINES ON ACTIVE DUTY IN EXCESS OF 120 CONTINUOUS DAYS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED ANNUAL LEAVE AS A CONSEQUENCE OF OPERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM AND OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM MAY BE AUTHORIZED TO ACCUMULATE ANNUAL LEAVE IN EXCESS OF 60 DAYS (NOT TO EXCEED A MAXIMUM OF 120 DAYS). IN ORDER TO BE AUTHORIZED UP TO 60 DAYS OF SLA, MARINES MUST SERVE AT LEAST 120 CONTINUOUS DAYS IN AN AREA IN WHICH THEY RECEIVE HOSTILE
FIRE/IMMINENT DANGER PAY OR BE ASSIGNED TO A DEPLOYABLE SHIP OR MOBILE UNIT AND OPERATE AWAY FROM ITS DESIGNATED HOMEPORT FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF AT LEAST 60 DAYS.
MARINES MAY BE AUTHORIZED TO RETAIN THIS LEAVE UNTIL THE END OF FY10 (30 SEP 10). FOR THOSE MARINES SUPPORTING THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM WHO DO NOT MEET THE ABOVE CRITERIA, AND WERE DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE LEAVE DURING FY07, A MAXIMUM OF ONLY 30 DAYS OF SLA MAY BE AUTHORIZED. MARINES MAY BE AUTHORIZED TO RETAIN THIS LEAVE UNTIL THE END OF FY08 (30 SEP 08).
3. ACTION
A. THIS MARADMIN DELEGATES AUTHORITY TO BATTALION AND SQUADRON COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND THOSE COMMANDING OFFICERS DESIGNATED IN REF C, PAR 2008(4)(A) AND (B), TO AUTHORIZE FOR THEIR ACTIVE DUTY MARINES WHO WERE DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE LEAVE DURING FY07 DUE TO CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS, UP TO 60 DAYS OF SLA UNDER THIS AUTHORITY. THIS ACTION DOES NOT REQUIRE COMMANDERS TO SUBMIT ANY REQUESTS TO THIS HEADQUARTERS. COMMANDERS WILL REFERENCE THIS
MARADMIN FOR THEIR AUTHORITY TO AUTHORIZE SUCH SLA. COMMANDERS WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT A COPY OF THE SLA AUTHORIZATION IS RETAINED IN THE COMMAND FILES AND IN THE MARINE'S SERVICE RECORD FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. THIS SLA IS IN ADDITION TO ANY SLA THAT MARINES MAY BE ENTITLED TO UNDER THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA OF PREVIOUS FISCAL YEARS. COMMANDERS MAY NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, AUTHORIZE THE ACCRUAL OF MORE THAN 60 DAYS OF SLA FOR ANY MARINE.
B. REQUESTS FOR SLA FOR CIRCUMSTANCES OTHER THAN THE CRITERIA ABOVE ARE TO BE ADMINISTERED PER REF C, PAR 2008(5).
C. COMMANDERS AUTHORIZED TO APPROVE SLA ARE REMINDED SLA IS PROVIDED BECAUSE OF REDUCED LEAVE TAKING OPPORTUNITIES CAUSED BY OPERATIONAL COMMITMENTS ONLY. SLA DOES NOT APPLY TO INDIVIDUAL CASES OF LEAVE LOST DUE TO WORKLOAD, HOSPITALIZATION, CONVALESCENT LEAVE, OR ANY OTHER SCENARIO THAT DOES NOT MEET THE OPERATIONAL CRITERIA IN PARAGRAPH 2008.1 OF REF C.
D. THE MARINE CORPS' POLICY OF ENCOURAGING MARINES TO TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THEIR ANNUAL LEAVE ACCRUAL REMAINS UNCHANGED.
EXPERIENCE HAS SHOWN THAT LEAVE FROM DUTY, EVEN FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, IS BENEFICIAL TO MORALE AND MAINTAINING MAXIMUM EFFECTIVENESS. THE LACK OF SUCH RESPITE AFFECTS HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE. ACCORDINGLY, WHEN THE MISSION ALLOWS, COMMANDERS SHOULD PROVIDE MARINES THE MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACCRUED LEAVE, EVEN FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME. FURTHER, POSTPONING THE USE OF ACCRUED LEAVE RESULTS IN LARGE LEAVE BALANCES THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO REDUCE AT A LATER DATE WITHOUT CREATING ADVERSE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES
(I.E., PERSONNEL STAFFING SHORTFALLS FOR LONG PERIODS). ADDITIONALLY, COMMANDERS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION IN APPROVING SLA REQUESTS THAT FAIL TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF REFS B AND C. EACH REQUEST SHOULD BE SCRUTINIZED CAREFULLY IN ORDER TO AVOID MARINES FROM BANKING LEAVE TO BE USED FOR OTHER THAN ITS INTENDED PURPOSE: RESPITE FROM ARDUOUS DUTY/DEPLOYMENTS IN SUPPORT OF CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS.
4. THIS BULLETIN IS CANCELLED FOR RECORD PURPOSES 30 SEPTEMBER 2008.
5. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY M. F. APPLEGATE, DIRECTOR, MANPOWER PLANS AND POLICY DIVISION.//