MCBUL 1050, Special Leave Accrual (SLA), Guidance for FY04

1. PURPOSE. TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE CONCERNING SPECIAL LEAVE 
ACCRUAL (SLA) FOR FY04. 
2. BACKGROUND.  REFERENCES A AND B PROVIDE SLA FOR MEMBERS UNDER 
SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES, INCLUDING NATIONAL EMERGENCIES/CRISIS OR 
OPERATIONS IN DEFENSE OF NATIONAL SECURITY.  REF C AUTHORIZES 
APPROVAL OF SLA FOR FY04.  THEREFORE, ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS WHO 
HAVE NOT BEEN AUTHORIZED ANNUAL LEAVE AS A CONSEQUENCE OF 
OPERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) AND
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) MAY BE AUTHORIZED TO ACCUMULATE
ANNUAL LEAVE IN EXCESS OF 60 DAYS (NOT TO EXCEED A MAXIMUM
OF 120 DAYS).  IN ORDER TO BE AUTHORIZED 60 DAYS OF SLA, ACTIVE 
DUTY MEMBERS MUST SERVE AT LEAST 120 CONTINUOUS DAYS IN AN AREA 
IN WHICH THEY RECEIVE HOSTILE FIRE/IMMINENT DANGER PAY OR BE 
ASSIGNED TO A DEPLOYABLE SHIP OR MOBILE UNIT AND OPERATE AWAY
FROM ITS DESIGNATED HOMEPORT FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF AT LEAST
60 DAYS.  MEMBERS MAY BE AUTHORIZED TO RETAIN THIS LEAVE UNTIL 
THE END OF FY07.  FOR THOSE MEMBERS SUPPORTING THE GLOBAL WAR ON
TERRORISM (GWOT) WHO DO NOT MEET THE ABOVE CRITERIA, AND WERE 
DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE LEAVE DURING THIS FY, ONLY 30 DAYS
OF SLA MAY BE AUTHORIZED.  MEMBERS MAY BE AUTHORIZED TO RETAIN 
THIS LEAVE UNTIL THE END OF FY05.  
3.  ACTION:
A.  THIS DELEGATES AUTHORITY TO ALL MARINE COMMANDING OFFICERS,
NOT JUST THOSE DESIGNATED IN REF B, PAR 2008(4)(B), TO AUTHORIZE
FOR THEIR ACTIVE DUTY MARINES WHO WERE DENIED THE OPPORTUNITY TO 
TAKE LEAVE DURING FY04 DUE TO CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS, UP TO 60 
DAYS OF SLA UNDER THIS AUTHORITY.  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.  THIS SLA IS IN ADDITION 
TO ANY SLA THAT MEMBERS MAY BE ENTITLED TO UNDER THE ELIGIBILITY 
CRITERIA OF REFERENCES A AND B.  COMMANDERS MAY NOT, UNDER ANY 
CIRCUMSTANCES, AUTHORIZE THE ACCRUAL OF MORE THAN 60 DAYS OF SLA 
FOR ANY MEMBER.
B.  REQUESTS FOR SLA FOR CIRCUMSTANCES OTHER THAN THE CRITERIA 
ABOVE ARE TO BE ADMINISTERED AS NORMAL IAW REF B, PAR 2008.
C.  THE PROCEDURES FOR RESTORING ACCRUED LEAVE IN EXCESS OF 60
DAYS ARE PROVIDED IN REF G, CHAPTER 1.
D.  THE MARINE CORPS' POLICY OF ENCOURAGING MEMBERS TO TAKE FULL 
ADVANTAGE OF THEIR ANNUAL LEAVE ACCRUAL REMAINS UNCHANGED.  
ACCORDINGLY, WHEN THE MISSION ALLOWS, COMMANDERS SHOULD PROVIDE 
MARINES THE MAXIMUM OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ACCRUED LEAVE.  
ADDITIONALLY, COMMANDERS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION IN APPROVING
SLA REQUESTS THAT FAIL TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF REF B.  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.
4.  THIS BULLETIN IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE.
5.  THIS BULLETIN IS CANCELLED FOR RECORD PURPOSES 30 SEPTEMBER 
2005.