MCBUL 1050, Special Leave Accrual (SLA), Guidance for Those Members Affected by Hurricane Katrina
This MARADMIN provides guidance on Special Leave Accrual (SLA) for Marines affected by Hurricane Katrina who lost leave during FY05. It delegates authority to battalion and squadron commanding officers to authorize up to 60 days of SLA (maximum 120 days total) for active duty Marines who were denied the opportunity to take leave due to Hurricane Katrina operations, as documented on their October 2005 Leave and Earnings Statement.
Issued: May 5, 2006
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.