MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Special Leave Accrual (SLA) allows service members who serve in hostile or imminent danger areas for a continuous period of at least 120 days to accumulate and retain up to 60 days of ordinary leave, plus 60 days of SLA-protected leave.
SLA is available to service members who are not allowed to take leave when in a combat zone or a situation preventing leave from being taken. The wing commander or wing vice commander has the final approval authority.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, effective March 11 – Sept. 20, 2020, members are authorized to accumulate annual leave in excess of 60 days as shown on the end the month Sept. 2020 Leave and Earnings Statement.
Q1. Can members accrue up to 120 days of leave through 2023 without using any days?
No, members cannot accrue up to 120 days of leave through 2023. Members may not accrue more than the 1 Oct 2020 carry over balance. You can find this number on your Oct 2020 LES on myPay.
Q2. Will the current period of COVID SLA accrual be extended past the 10 Sep 2020 date due to existing COVID-19 impacts?
No current extension exists yet. The office of the Secretary of Defense will have discussions on whether to extend the COVID SLA period in June 2021. Once a decision is made guidance will be distributed to the field.
Q3. If a member takes leave during the year and the COVID SLA balance drops can they continue to accrue back up to the 1 Oct 2020 amount before the end of the FY?
No, once members CZ leave carry over balance drops below the 1 Oct 2020 amount then that becomes the new balance. If the amount drops to 60 or below then COVID SLA is then considered used. There is no option to accrue back up to the previous carryover balance.
Q4. Airmen that have carried over leave in FY20 should have to take 30 days of leave or risk losing leave at the end of the FY?
Yes, currently members with a carryover balance will be required to use 30 days or any excess leave at 30 Sept. 2021 will be lost.
Q5. How can members calculate their current use or lose based on incorrect LES data being reflected?
To calculate their correct Use or Lose number, the member will need to subtract 60 from the CZ LV Carryover Balance (listed in the remarks section on the LES). Then take that number and subtract it from the number in the Use/Lose leave block.
Q6. Can members sell back more than 60 days of leave upon retiring or separating due to COVID leave restrictions and the accumulation of excess leave?
No, currently there is no exception allowing members to sell back more than the maximum amount of 60 days in a career.
For more information, please visit https://www.myairforcebenefits.us.af.mil/Benefit-Library/Federal-Benefits/Special-Leave-Accrual-(SLA).