MARADMINS : 209/06
R 050729Z MAY 06
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL MARADMIN(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 209/06
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MRA//
SUBJ/MCBUL 1050, SPECIAL LEAVE ACCRUAL (SLA), GUIDANCE FOR THOSE
/MEMBERS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA//
REF/A/MSGID:DOC/TITLE 10, U.S.C., SECTION 701/-//
REF/B/MSGID:DOC/USD PR/22APR2005//
REF/C/MSGID:DOC/USD PR/07APR2006//
REF/D/MSGID:ASN MRA/-/24APR2006//
REF/E/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 OSD MEMO
AUTHORIZING LEAVE ACCRUAL FOR MEMBERS ASSIGNED TO A DEPLOYABLE SHIP
OR MOBILE UNIT OR OTHER DUTY. REF D IS SECNAV DELEGATION MEMO. REF
E IS P1050.3H, REGULATIONS FOR LEAVE, LIBERTY AND ADMINISTRATIVE
ABSENCE.//
POC/L. BAUER/MAJ/-/-/TEL:DSN 278-9386/TEL:COM (703)784-9386//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. PURPOSE. TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE CONCERNING SPECIAL
LEAVE ACCRUAL (SLA) FOR THOSE MEMBERS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE KATRINA.
2. BACKGROUND. IAW THE REFS, MEMBERS WHO LOST LEAVE, AS
DOCUMENTED ON THEIR OCTOBER 2005 LES, AS A CONSEQUENCE OF OPERATIONS
ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE KATRINA MAY BE AUTHORIZED TO ACCUMULATE
ANNUAL LEAVE IN EXCESS OF 60 DAYS (NOT TO EXCEED A MAXIMUM OF 120
DAYS).
3. ACTION.
A. THIS DELEGATES AUTHORITY TO BATTALION AND SQUADRON
COMMANDING OFFICERS, AND THOSE COMMANDING OFFICERS
DESIGNATED IN REF E, PAR 2008(4)(A) AND (B), TO AUTHORIZE
FOR THEIR ACTIVE DUTY MARINES WHO WERE DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO
TAKE LEAVE DURING FY05 DUE TO HURRICANE KATRINA, UP TO 60
DAYS OF SLA UNDER THIS AUTHORITY. THIS BULLETIN IS APPLICABLE
TO RESERVE COMPONENT MARINES ON ACTIVE DUTY FOR GREATER THAN 120
CONTINUOUS DAYS. 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 INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS' SERVICE
RECORD FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. COMMANDERS MAY NOT, UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, AUTHORIZE THE ACCRUAL OF MORE THAN A TOTAL OF 60
DAYS OF SLA FOR ANY MEMBER REGARDLESS OF THE FY IN WHICH IT WAS
EARNED.
B. REQUESTS FOR SLA FOR CIRCUMSTANCES OTHER THAN THE CRITERIA
ABOVE ARE TO BE ADMINISTERED AS NORMAL IAW REF E, PAR 2008.
C. THE MARINE CORPS' POLICY OF ENCOURAGING MEMBERS 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. FURTHER, POSTPONING THE USE OF ACCRUED LEAVE RESULTS IN
LARGE LEAVE BALANCES THAT ARE DIFFICULT TO REDUCE WITHOUT
CREATING ADVERSE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES (E.G., PERSONNEL
STAFFING SHORTFALLS FOR LONG PERIODS). ADDITIONALLY,
COMMANDERS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION IN APPROVING SLA REQUESTS
THAT FAIL TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF REF B AND C. EACH
REQUEST SHOULD BE SCRUTINIZED CAREFULLY IN ORDER TO AVOID
MARINES FROM BANKING LEAVE TO BE UTILIZED FOR OTHER THAN ITS
INTENDED PURPOSE: RESPITE FROM ARDUOUS DUTY/DEPLOYMENTS IN
SUPPORT OF CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS.//