Separation: Leave - Getting Out, Military Retirement - Military Times

Separation: Leave

Looking for a civilian job while relocating to a new community can be challenging. But active-duty members may be able to take time away from their military jobs to look for civilian employment and a place to live.

Service members who are approaching separation or retirement may be granted 30 days of excess leave or 10 days of permissive temporary duty. Excess leave is anything beyond the 30 days of annual leave normally accrued and is considered non-pay status.

Whether the leave or TDY is granted is up to individual commanders. If leave would disrupt a unit’s mission, a commander may deny leave. Within limits set by the Pentagon, each service may have different policies as to the kind and quantity of leave taken.

In some cases, commanders may grant an additional 20 days of permissive TDY for members stationed overseas or an additional 10 days for those stationed in the continental U.S.