MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- A Marine Administrative Message was sent out July 12 revealing special leave conditions for those who participated in conflicts abroad.
According to MARADMIN 326/03, those who were deployed during Operation Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle and Operation Iraqi Freedom are entitled to 30 days of special leave.
For the Marines who participated in these events, and therefore accumulated over 60 days of leave, the MARADMIN also states they will be able to keep those days until the end of fiscal year 2004. If a Marine wishes to extend the leave days to fiscal year 2005, a request needs to be sent through their S-1 with a copy of this MARADMIN as a reference.
During normal circumstances a Marine cannot have more than 60 days of leave on record after a fiscal year ends or the days will be taken away.
What the MARADMIN is saying is for those over in Iraq and Afghanistan, they can accumulate up to 90 days of leave without having leave days taken away at the end of fiscal year 2004 or if they submit an extension request, then until fiscal year 2005, said Lance Cpl. Coarties Raines, Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron administrative clerk.
Marines or Sailors who this may apply to need to go to their S-1 clerk with a copy of the MARADMIN and their page three out of their service record book to show they were with a unit deployed or a copy of their orders stating they were at one these conflicts, Raines said.
Although some Marines may not have directly been deployed to these areas, special circumstances may qualify them for the leave.
"If a Marine was in support of a unit that was deployed to a conflict they may be entitled to the special leave as well, but that?s a case by case scenario and only S-1 can make the decision on whether or not to grant the Marine the special leave," said Raines.
For more information on whether a Marine or Sailor qualifies for special leave contact your S-1 department.