If you’re in the military and planning to take some time off, you may be wondering what vacation is called in the military. In the civilian world, we often refer to vacation as “time off,” “personal days,” or “paid time off.” However, in the military, vacation is referred to as “leave.”
What is Military Leave?
Military leave is authorized absence from duty for a specific period of time. It’s a benefit that all service members receive and can be used for various reasons such as vacation, personal business, or family emergencies. The amount of leave you receive depends on your length of service and the branch of the military you serve in.
Types of Military Leave
There are several types of military leave that a service member can take:
Regular Leave
Regular leave is what most people think of when they hear the term “military leave.” It’s authorized absence from duty for personal reasons such as vacation or family events.
Sick Leave
Sick leave is authorized absence from duty due to illness or injury. Service members can use sick leave for themselves or to care for an immediate family member who is ill or injured.
Emergency Leave
Emergency leave is authorized absence from duty due to a personal emergency such as a death in the family.
Convalescent Leave
Convalescent leave is authorized absence from duty for a service member who has been hospitalized due to illness or injury.
How to Request Military Leave
To request military leave, service members must submit a leave request form through their chain of command. The form must include the reason for the requested leave and the dates requested. Service members may also need to provide additional documentation depending on the type of leave requested.
- To request regular leave: submit a leave request form
- To request sick leave: submit a leave request form and medical documentation
- To request emergency leave: submit a leave request form and documentation of the emergency
- To request convalescent leave: submit a leave request form and medical documentation
Conclusion
In summary, vacation in the military is referred to as “leave.” Service members can take several types of military leave including regular, sick, emergency, and convalescent.
To request military leave, service members must submit a leave request form through their chain of command. Whether you’re planning a vacation or dealing with an unexpected emergency, military leave allows service members to take time off when they need it most.