MILPER MESSAGE NUMBER : 06-181
AHRC-PDO-IP
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE FOR AUTHORIZED SPECIAL LEAVE ACCRUAL TO SUPPORT THE GULF COAST DISASTER RELIEF
Issued: [06/27/2006]...

A.  TITLE 10, USC, SECTION 701F (1).
B.  DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE INSTRUCTIONS 1327.6, LEAVE AND LIBERTY, DTD 22 APRIL 2005.
C.  AR 600-8-10, LEAVES AND PASSES, DTD 15 FEBRUARY 2006.
1.  EXPIRATION:  THIS MESSAGE EXPIRES 30 JUNE 2008.
2.  THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO CLARIFY EXISTING POLICY AND PROCEDURES FOR SPECIAL LEAVE ACCRUAL (SLA) ENTITLEMENTS FOR SOLDIERS DEPLOYED OR ASSIGNED TO THE HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF EFFORTS.
3.  DUE TO THE DISASTER (HURRICANE KATRINA) THAT IMPACTED THE GULF COAST AREA ON 29 AUGUST 2005 (E.G. ALABAMA, MISSISSIPPI AND LOUISIANA), OUR ACTIVE DUTY SOLDIERS WERE CALLED UPON TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN THE RELIEF EFFORTS TO THE AFFECTED AREAS.
4.  A RECENT CHANGE TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006, AUTHORIZES QUALIFYING SOLDIERS WHO PHYSICALLY DEPLOYED TO THE DISASTER AREA THE ABILITY TO RETAIN AND ACCUMULATE UP TO 120 DAYS LEAVE AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR.
5. SPECIAL LEAVE ACCRUAL:  EFFECTIVE 29 AUGUST 2005, SOLDIERS PERFORMING DUTIES IN THE DISASTER AREAS WHO WERE PREVENTED FROM TAKING LEAVE THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR, MAY QUALIFY TO RETAIN AND ACCUMULATE UP TO 93 DAYS LEAVE (29 AUGUST 2005 THROUGH 30 SEPTEMBER 2005) (E.G. 33 DAYS IN EXCESS OF THE MAXIMUM 60 DAY LEAVE CARRY OVER AT THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2005.  A SOLDIER’S LEAVE BALANCE MUST EXCEED 60 DAYS AT THE END OF THE FY IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR LEAVE RETENTION.  THE MACOM COMMANDER IS THE APPROVAL AUTHORITY FOR SOLDIERS WHO MEET THE ABOVE CRITERIA.
6.  QUALIFYING SOLDIERS MUST USE ACCUMULATED LEAVE IN EXCESS OF 60 DAYS BEFORE THE THIRD FISCAL YEAR AFTER THE SERVICE TERMINATED (E.G. 30 SEPTEMBER 2008), IF QUALIFYING IN FY 2005.  SPECIAL LEAVE ACCRUAL ACCUMULATED DUE TO HURRICANE KATRINA WILL BE CONSIDERED LOST ON 1 OCTOBER 2008, IF NOT USED.
7.  THE ARMY HUMAN RESOURCES COMMAND (AHRC) FUNCTIONAL PROPONENT IS MRS. MCCLELLAND, DSN 221-9005 OR COMMERCIAL (703)
325-9005.