RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Servicemembers can look forward to carrying over a maximum of 75 days' leave, but the temporary change won't happen until the end of fiscal year 2009.
According to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service general counsel, the change from carryover of 60 days' leave to 75 days is not effective for leave lost on Sept. 30, the end of the current fiscal year.
"There is no change to current policy to carry leave forward this year," said Senior Master Sgt. Rhonda Britt, Special Programs superintendent at the Air Force Personnel Center. "Individuals need to continue to manage their leave balances in such a way as to preclude a leave balance of more than 60 days on Sept. 30."
She said servicemembers who have more than 60 days' leave Sept. 30 lose the days above 60 unless subject to the provisions of special leave accrual.
Citing a hypothetical case, Sergeant Britt said a servicemember who has 63 days' leave Sept. 30 will lose three days and begin the next fiscal year with a balance of 60 days. However, a servicemember who has 75 days' leave accrued by Sept. 30, 2009, can carry over all 75 days to the following year.
But she also said the policy is not permanent; it will expire Dec. 31, 2010.
Sergeant Britt said the change applies to all military personnel, not just those deployed in support of contingencies.
"Based on the U.S. Code, it appears to apply to all members and does not require approval like special leave accrual does," she said.