Leave authority on attach posting

[valcartier]

Hello. I am currently attach posted to a unit for OJE during the summer. I am seeking clarification for the following questions WRT leave. Both my gaining unit and home unit have given very mixed answers and some are not even aware of what an attach posting does administratively.

1. Who is the appropriate approval authority for leave during an attach posting? Is it the gaining unit or the home unit CoC? Both my gaining and home unit says its themselves
2. I was told by someone that members on subsidized education at RMC are not entitled to short leave. Is this true? I can't find a reference anywhere. My gaining unit CO has approved two shorts per month for everyone and I'm looking to take it IAW their leave plans

Thanks in advance

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Don’t have the leave manual in front of me, but from memory:

1. The unit you are attach posted to has the authority to grant leave for the period you are with them. If you apply for leave that extends past your AP period, your home unit would approve (generally the two units consult).

2. Short leave. I would need more context before answering this question. COs have the authority to grant up to two short days per month. I don’t see what being an RMC Cadet has to do with that, but, generally RMC cadets are covered off with special leave (academic) during the summer, once they have burned all their annual leave, instead of short.

 

[valcartier]

Don’t have the leave manual in front of me, but from memory:

1. The unit you are attach posted to has the authority to grant leave for the period you are with them. If you apply for leave that extends past your AP period, your home unit would approve (generally the two units consult).

2. Short leave. I would need more context before answering this question. COs have the authority to grant up to two short days per month. I don’t see what being an RMC Cadet has to do with that, but, generally RMC cadets are covered off with special leave (academic) during the summer, once they have burned all their annual leave, instead of short.

The context here is I am trying to take leave that matches my gaining unit’s leave plan, but am being told by my RMC CoC that we are not eligible for shorts and that the gaining unit CO does not “have permission” to approve leave for me, both of which I cannot find references for. I haven’t burned all my annuals yet.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

The context here is I am trying to take leave that matches my gaining unit’s leave plan, but am being told by my RMC CoC that we are not eligible for shorts and that the gaining unit CO does not “have permission” to approve leave for me, both of which I cannot find references for. I haven’t burned all my annuals yet.

Completely incorrect about leave authority.

 

[valcartier]

Completely incorrect about leave authority.

That is what I thought as well. WRT short leave, the language in the leave manual is the same, where the CO or his delegate may approve up to two shorts per month for a member of a unit. Nowhere there or the respective QR&O chapter does it reference eligibility while on subsidized education at all.

 

[MJP]

As long as you're showing back up to RMC with all the right leave burnt, it shouldn't be an issue to them and really they have no authority if you're properly attached posted. However, if you're getting short leave and not burning all your annual leave that you need to burn during the summer leave, then if I was them I'd be talking to your AP unit and saying "Hey, here's the situation"


Not saying this is the case here but having managed a very large BTL, a lot of officer cadets and NCM have tried to game the system to be able to accumulate leave at the end of the year.

I was usually pretty direct with both the member and the unit. If you don't burn the amount of leave required, I will pull you back into my organization and cancel the attach posting.

Again not saying that's the case here. Just pointing out that is where RMC could be coming from. If you're not trying to game the system, you could probably alleviate this partially by making sure they understand that you will come back with all your proper leave burnt.

 

[valcartier]

As long as you're showing back up to RMC with all the right leave burnt, it shouldn't be an issue to them and really they have no authority if you're properly attached posted. However, if you're getting short leave and not burning all your annual leave that you need to burn during the summer leave, then if I was them I'd be talking to your AP unit and saying "Hey, here's the situation"


Not saying this is the case here but having managed a very large BTL, a lot of officer cadets and NCM have tried to game the system to be able to accumulate leave at the end of the year.

I was usually pretty direct with both the member and the unit. If you don't burn the amount of leave required, I will pull you back into my organization and cancel the attach posting.

Again not saying that's the case here. Just pointing out that is where RMC could be coming from. If you're not trying to game the system, you could probably alleviate this partially by making sure they understand that you will come back with all your proper leave burnt.

Completely opposite from trying to get accumulated leave: I’m trying to burn as much as I can and go home. Burned everything RMC needs to me to, but I’m seeking to take more annuals because my whole unit will be gone on leave and they’re highly recommending me to do the same. RMC doesn’t seem to like that idea

 

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Just have your unit make your place of work your home address.....

 

[valcartier]

Just have your unit make your place of work your home address.....

I've gotten this recommendation. I'm more interested in the actual policy that governs leave approval authority under attach posting.

 

[Jarnhamar]

I've gotten this recommendation. I'm more interested in the actual policy that governs leave approval authority under attach posting.

Canadian Forces Leave Policy Manual (01 April 2025)

2.9 Leave Beyond Change of Strength Date

2.9.01 When posted in Canada or the continental United States

When posted in Canada or to the continental United States, leave beyond a member's Change of Strength (COS) date may be approved only by, or with the concurrence of, the CO of the gaining unit.

 

[valcartier]

Canadian Forces Leave Policy Manual (01 April 2025)

don’t we remain the strength of our home unit on attach postings?

 

[Jarnhamar]

don’t we remain the strength of our home unit on attach postings?

You do, yes. But the question you're asking doesn't have a specific answer spelled out in policy. The default when that happens is to default to what makes sense.

Soldiers attach posted will have duties and responsibilities which need to be deconflicted or at least considered before granted leave. (The recommending part of the leave pass) Your home unit wouldn't have much situational awareness of that. Your situation of trying to mimic your AP units leave block is a good example. Not doing so would mean the unit has to account for members showing up and sitting on their hands all day. I'm looking at it from a regular unit point of view but it's fundamentally similar I think.

If your home unit isn't following best practices your two units will need to speak and establish who's responsible for administering your leave.

 

[valcartier]

You do, yes. But the question you're asking doesn't have a specific answer spelled out in policy. The default when that happens is to default to what makes sense.

Soldiers attach posted will have duties and responsibilities which need to be deconflicted or at least considered before granted leave. (The recommending part of the leave pass) Your home unit wouldn't have much situational awareness of that. Your situation of trying to mimic your AP units leave block is a good example. Not doing so would mean the unit has to account for members showing up and sitting on their hands all day. I'm looking at it from a regular unit point of view but it's fundamentally similar I think.

If your home unit isn't following best practices your two units will need to speak and establish who's responsible for administering your leave.

Thank you for this detailed response. I’ll have them fight it out then

 

[PuckChaser]

don’t we remain the strength of our home unit on attach postings?

I'm going to provide a little bit of radical candor here. Those short days are for someone on full strength of the unit driving the body for a calendar year. You're there to learn what you can prior to graduation from a real unit and not to milk short days. Take your RMC given leave and earn any short days from your OJT supervisor.

If you've earned short leave from them it's a reward for your performance; you're not entitled to any of it.

 

[valcartier]

I'm going to provide a little bit of radical candor here. Those short days are for someone on full strength of the unit driving the body for a calendar year. You're there to learn what you can prior to graduation from a real unit and not to milk short days. Take your RMC given leave and earn any short days from your OJT supervisor.

If you've earned short leave from them it's a reward for your performance; you're not entitled to any of it.

I’m not trying to milk shorts here. I am genuinely happy working at the unit. I was told to take the two shorts and two annuals by my CO without even asking about leave in the first place - I fully accepted that RMC would only give me two weeks this summer before starting my OJE and was happy with it. I’m also not saying I am always entitled to shorts. The problem here is RMC wants the CO to rescind his signature and change the two shorts to annuals, and somehow I’m in trouble. All I’m seeking here is policy clarification and not asking how do I game the system and be a bag

 

[PuckChaser]

Your gaining unit CO should email your RMC CoC. Talk to your gaining unit Adjt. If those shorts put you out of sync with your peers, expect them to be annuals. It does happen.