Leave Guarantee

[ATIS4life]

I wanted to know if there was a way to guarantee leave dates other than with an approved leave pass. I am planning something well in advance with my family but it is a package deal and gets more expensive with every month closer to the dates i need. Leave passes in my unit are usually not approved (or refused) untill 1 week before the actual leave, sometimes only a couple days before. My superior has already verbally approved the dates but i need something more solid. Is there a way?

 

[meni0n]

A memo would do it I guess.

 

[BernDawg]

Put it in a memo and get it signed off by your boss.

 

[PuckChaser]

Your unit refuses to sign leave passes when you're trying to plan ahead? If they were doing that to me, I wouldn't trust their guarantee either.

 

[MJP]

I wanted to know if there was a way to guarantee leave dates other than with an approved leave pass. I am planning something well in advance with my family but it is a package deal and gets more expensive with every month closer to the dates i need. Leave passes in my unit are usually not approved (or refused) untill 1 week before the actual leave, sometimes only a couple days before. My superior has already verbally approved the dates but i need something more solid. Is there a way?

As said memo it.

But honestly dude with a CoC like that your best bet is to book the vacation and buy cancellation insurance at the same time.  It is a small price to pay for knowing that if everything goes south with your plans you at least get your money back.

 

[Nostix]

Be careful with cancellation insurance though.

Many plans have very specific list of reasons that you can cancel for, which usually don't include things like this.

 

[PMedMoe]

A memo is fine (it can't hurt), but technically, once you have a signed leave pass, you can make financial commitments and they should have to pay you back if they have to cancel your leave.  I would put in the memo just to make sure they know you are making financial commitments.  Now, if you know there's something coming up, that's a different story.

 

[dogger1936]

A memo is fine (it can't hurt), but technically, once you have a signed leave pass, you can make financial commitments and they should have to pay you back if they have to cancel your leave.  I would put in the memo just to make sure they know you are making financial commitments.  Now, if you know there's something coming up, that's a different story.

Really?

After having my leave cancelled to get called in I have been told to see RSO 1101 "Suck it up". I've been accumlating days like a soldier in 1988. Can you provide references for that?

 

[Snaketnk]

I have the same kind of issue coming up; my CoC won't action my memo or my Leave Pass until a couple of weeks before the requested leave date.

 

[dapaterson]

Really?

After having my leave cancelled to get called in I have been told to see RSO 1101 "Suck it up". I've been accumlating days like a soldier in 1988. Can you provide references for that?

From the Leave Policy Manual (http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dgcb-dgras/pd/lea-con/doc/cflpm-mprcfc-eng.pdf):

Section 2.7 Withholding and Recall From Leave
2.7.01 Policy
The policy for withholding of and recalling from leave is directed in QR&O 16.01, Withholding of and Recall from Leave.
2.7.02 General administration
If a CF member on leave is recalled to duty, the CO shall ensure that the member's URS is notified of the details of the altered leave period.
Pursuant to CBI 209.54, Reimbursement of Expenses When Recalled From or On Cancellation of Leave and CFAO 209-15, Transportation on Leave, Special Leave or Recall From Leave, Section 4, a member who is recalled from leave may be entitled to reimbursement of additional expenses.

The CBI reads (http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dgcb-dgras/pub/cbi-dra/doc/209-05.pdf):

209.54 – REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES WHEN RECALLED FROM OR ON CANCELLATION OF LEAVE

209.54(1) (Application) Subject to paragraph (2), an officer or non-commissioned member who is recalled to duty from leave in accordance with article 16.01 - Withholding of and Recall From Leave of the QR&O or whose approved leave has been cancelled for service reasons may be reimbursed for:

(a) transportation and travelling expenses in accordance with CBI 209.83 - Transportation and Travelling Expenses – Move of Officers and Non-commissioned Members on Posting or of Dependants for the member and, where applicable, their dependants to the place of duty from the place from which the member was recalled and for the return journey if the member resumes leave immediately after completion of the duty for which the member was recalled; and

(b) additional expenses resulting either from the cost of breaking contractual arrangements or cancellation fees that were made specifically for the purpose of an approved leave period.

209.54(2) (Submission of claims for reimbursement) Claims for reimbursement under paragraph (1) shall be submitted in accordance with orders and instructions issued by the Chief of the Defence Staff.

 

[Zoomie]

I would really like to know which units are in the practice of approving leave only weeks in advance... What sort of unreasonable supervisors are out there?  I'm in the habit of putting in a leave pass April 1st for my sons birthday in late July - always approved.

 

[CombatDoc]

I wanted to know if there was a way to guarantee leave dates other than with an approved leave pass. I am planning something well in advance with my family but it is a package deal and gets more expensive with every month closer to the dates i need. Leave passes in my unit are usually not approved (or refused) untill 1 week before the actual leave, sometimes only a couple days before. My superior has already verbally approved the dates but i need something more solid. Is there a way?

The only guarantee is a signed leave pass.  Although a minuted memo to your CO through your supervisor may help you convince your CoC to sign off your leave pass request, without a signed leave pass in your possession you're SOL.  This is assuming that there is no important concurrent military activity planned for the same time period.

 

[Nostix]

I would really like to know which units are in the practice of approving leave only weeks in advance... What sort of unreasonable supervisors are out there?  I'm in the habit of putting in a leave pass April 1st for my sons birthday in late July - always approved.

I'd consider it very helpful if a few RegF members would comment on their experience with advanced signing of leave passes.

It's an issue that I'm curious about, but haven't had a lot of luck finding information on.

 

[q_1966]

Be careful they don't "loose" your leave pass on a friday afternoon, and tell you don't need one to go to Courtney/Comox for the weekend (from Esquimalt). Ive also seen people book flights prior to having leave pass in hand, or setting up to fly out friday night and be late shift that day. :facepalm:

 

[Occam]

I'd consider it very helpful if a few RegF members would comment on their experience with advanced signing of leave passes.

It's an issue that I'm curious about, but haven't had a lot of luck finding information on.

Most of my leave gets taken within a couple weeks of asking for it, but I did take a few weeks back in 2005 that I know I had a signed leave pass for, a few months in advance.  No issues with them signing it.

 

[CombatDoc]

I'd consider it very helpful if a few RegF members would comment on their experience with advanced signing of leave passes.

It's an issue that I'm curious about, but haven't had a lot of luck finding information on.

I have been recalled from leave for short notice operational taskings.  However, I've never had a problem getting leave passes approved in advance eg. Spring Break, summer holidays.  That has also been my observation for other members at every unit that I've served with.  Problems arise when someone wants to take leave when the fall ex, career courses or something similar are already on the training calendar.

 

[exgunnertdo]

I'd consider it very helpful if a few RegF members would comment on their experience with advanced signing of leave passes.

It's an issue that I'm curious about, but haven't had a lot of luck finding information on.

My husband was in Afghanistan in 2009 and I (Reg F member) needed a signed leave pass in order to do our bookings for 3rd location HLTA (Disney World + a cruise = a metric boat load of money that I wasn't about to lose for lack of a leave pass).

HLTA was in September, I believe I had signed leave pass in hand in early June, as soon as hubby had his leave approved in theatre. I was making bookings by end June.

I don't make any bookings without a signed leave pass, and I have never had trouble getting leave passes signed well in advance of my leave (6 years in the RegF). I've done it other times (like in Sept/Oct timeframe for Christmas leave) but the HLTA is the only one where I can remember the details. The odd time, I've had someone say "wow, you're submitting this one early" but never an argument or denial.

 

[BernDawg]

When I was a ground pounder we needed a damned good reason to get a signed leave pass more than a week or two in advance. After I re-mustered and worked for the Airforce I got in the habit of putting in my leave passes as early as possible to avoid any issues and generally they were approved, signed and returned within a week or two of submission. One year we were requested to submit a leave plan in April for the entire year, I submitted my leave plan and the leave passes to go with it (I thought I would piss someone off) and they were approved, signed and returned within two weeks without so much as a harsh word, in fact I was complemented on  my planning skills.
I guess the point of it is - it's up to your unit as to how they process leave passes and it varied widely across the CF.