Taking leave during stash, IFS, API etc.

[jaerose]

Ok, I'm BDCP and currently have 90 days of untouchable leave on the books. I am thinking about selling some back because all I'm doing now is losing it. I know we can only do this once in our careers, but considering the time value of money...the money is worth more now than the difference at a higher rate and I can sell more back because I don't need it.

The information I need when trying to decide how much to sell back is how much leave does one typically take during stash, ifs, api and so on? I'm assuming that you can take it during stash, but once you start IFS and API on through the pipleine you're too busy to take leave (except for Christmas of course). For those of you who have been through, how much leave did you use during that time? Did you use any at all?

I want to sell as much back as possible, but I would also like to have some hoarded away for a later date =) I know I'll have to use up to 16 in OCS for Christmas, but I'll also earn 7 days during OCS, so that means a net loss of 11 days. Can those of you currently in the situation, or past that part of your career offer any suggestions/opinions? Thanks a ton!

JR

 

[bch]

However much you sell back, make sure and leave yourself at least 30 days on the books once you have taken leave. You can keep up to 30 days at a time.

I know that I took 5 days in transit on the way out to Pcola, but I still had to report on the date that my orders said.

Not sure how much you can take while you are stashed, I know people did. Once you class up for API though, it was RARE that they granted people leave, and when they did it was on a weekend basis only.

As far as primary goes. Once you leave API, it all depends on what wing you go to and how long of a wait you have to class up. Once you do class up though, weekends only except for extenuating circumstances.

Hope this helps

 

[Jaxs170]

Granted I am not in Pcola right now, but I have been hearing about HUGE delays in classing up for API, up to 6 month waits based on the last info I had. Maybe you would want to hold off selling back the leave till you check in, that way if they tell you something like "Hey, its gonna be 3 months till you start anything" you could use the extra leave to take a nice long vacation.

Not sure this would work for you, but I'll tell ya, I haven't had more than 4 days off since getting commissioned on 17 MAY 02 thanks to flight training, and I sure do wish I could have taken a vaction at some point during that b/c I am totally burnt out now and Xmas break is still 3+ months away!

 

[jaerose]

Yeah, but if I wait then I lose 30 days Dec. 31 and it just seems like wasted money to me...like I should at least sell those back and keep 60, or whatever. I'm going to talk to my opo about it tomorrow, too. Thanks.

JR

 

[Aimee]

Don't count on the "huge" delays classing up for API. Its seasonal. They've got me on the fast track...

 

[goplay234]

What is this fast track and how can I hop on it? I report on 05DEC.

 

[EODDave]

Sell back 60 and keep 30. The 30 plus what you will earn during OCS is enough. Two months pay would be a great party before OCS.

Dave

 

[NuSnake]

How do you go about selling back leave? Just curious

 

[amyg]

I read that you earn 7.5 days of leave during OCS but that you can take up to 16 days over the Christmas holiday. I didn't sign my paperwork with the Navy until after I graduated from college so I don't have any leave already earned and I don't think I'll start to earn any until I report. What happens if you take more leave then you've earned? Can you even do that? If you take more leave then you've got, how do you resolve the negative balance? I'd appreciate any information, thanks.

 

[bch]

In order to go into the hole (neg leave) you would need your Co/Xo approval. How you fix the balance,is that all the leave you earn from that point on, goes to fullfilling the "debt" before you start to accumulate more leave.

you earn 20 days per year (2.5 days a month) on active duty

 

[jaerose]

I think bch meant 30 days per year. Also, check the OCS website because I was under the impression that if you went negative you had to make it square (back to zero) prior to the end of OCS, which would mean paying for those days somehow. I'm not an expert, but I'd check.

JR

 

[bch]

yeah thanks jae, aviator math at work! I am retarded, what can I say.. All the early morning briefs so far this week

 

[amyg]

Thanks for all the information, it'll make a difference as too how much leave I end up taking.

 

[lvgravy]

Jaerose,
The military goes by the fiscal year..you will loose your leave Sept 30th as Oct 1st is the begining of the new fiscal year unless you are under a different system with BDCP. You may really want to look into that if you have not already. Sometimes you can get a waiver to carry over the balance if you are able to prove you were unable to take it.

 

[jaerose]

Yeah, I just found that out yesterday at my OPO...I'm looking into my options right now. The only way I can sell it back is if I can use the 'special circumstances' loophole. Otherwise, I'll be eating a month of leave.

JR