Noon-to-noon no more: Corps cans leave leeway for some

[thedrifter]

Noon-to-noon no more: Corps cans leave leeway for some

7/2/2009 By Cpl. Laura A. Mapes , Marine Corps Air Station Yuma

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. —The Corps’ new leave and liberty order now limits who can begin and end their leave at noon, changing a practice established five years ago.

Marine Corps Order 1050.3J, signed and made effective May 19, 2009, clarified that only Marines traveling via privately owned vehicles out of the local area should be allowed to leave and return around noon.

Marines taking leave in the local area and those who aren’t driving to their leave location, such as passengers on airplanes or buses, may begin leave after the end of a full eight-hour work day and must return before the start of a work day in order to avoid dipping into their leave balance.

The order clarified that the local area pertains to the area between a Marine’s place of residence and his place of duty.

Drivers departing early aren’t charged for the half-days of work they miss, according to the order.

In November 2004, the Corps modified its leave policy to allow Marines to depart at 12:01 p.m. and return no later than noon but not be charged a full day of leave in an effort keep Marines safe by curbing nighttime or fatigued driving.

However, many commands adopted the noon-to-noon policy regardless of travel method. The practice, in essence, gave Marines a free day of leave, while the Corps lost
approximately eight hours of work every time someone took leave.

According to the new order, the safety of the Marines is still the primary consideration.

Therefore, commanders can adjust departure and return times to ensure Marines drive during daylight. The order also “strongly encouraged” commanders to apply these principles to periods of special liberty, such as long holiday weekends, which many commands also sandwich with a half-day buffer.

Currently, leave requests in Marine Online automatically insert “1201” and “1200” as departure and return times on the first and last leave days selected. However, Marines can manually change the times to reflect their travel methods.

Changing the times by one minute longer on either day will charge an additional day of leave.

“Leave granting authorities shall use internal control procedures to ensure all periods on leave are charged to the Marine’s leave account and to ensure personnel accountability,” the order reads.

Every Marine earns 2.5 days of paid leave per month, or 30 days per year.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Additional changes made to leave, liberty order

7/2/2009 By Cpl. Laura A. Mapes , Marine Corps Air Station Yuma

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. —Besides limiting early departures for Marines traveling in their privately owned vehicles to their leave address, the newest version of the Marine Corps’ leave and liberty order contains 16 other clarifications or changes.

Marine Administrative Message 352/09, published June 10, 2009, announced the cancellation of the previous Marine Corps Order for leave and liberty, MCO P1050.3H.

One clarification regards special liberty periods falling within a Marine’s leave. If the leave overlaps a 96- or 72-hour liberty period, they will be charged leave on the days of liberty. It will not be counted as “free leave” just because the rest of the unit is on liberty.

The order also states that commanders will grant up to 21 days permissive temporary assignment of duty for any Marine adopting a child, an increase to the 10 days previously authorized. Commanders are also required to give up to 10 days PTAD for any married Marine whose spouse gives birth, depending on the unit’s mission. If a Marine is deployed during the birth of their child, the commander must grant them PTAD within 30 days of their return.

According to the new order, Marine Online is now the primary means to approve or deny leave and liberty, as well as checking in and out procedures. However, Marines on TAD or PTAD who require emergency leave can be issued leave orders through the Defense Travel System.

Some other changes were made to ensure Marines avoid losing the leave they earn.

Marines who are deployed on a ship or mobile unit for at least 60 days continuously, or are serving on other unscheduled operations for at least 60 continuous days are authorized up to 120 days of special leave accrual.

Also, the number of days allowed for special rest and recuperation when extending tours overseas has also been increased to 20 days when using the government paid round trip option.

Marines who are separating from the Marine Corps in an overseas location may now request more than 60 days of leave, but it must be approved by Headquarters Marine Corps.

The Marine Corps also has discontinued the use of the armed forces liberty pass, form DD 345. Individual commands should develop methods for creating and distributing liberty passes, according to the order.

Marine Corps Recruiting Command was granted the authority to grant newly commissioned officers up to an additional 60 days of nonchargeable leave after they have completed their post-graduation leave.

Another revision states when an officer is being forcibly separated from the Marine Corps, a board of inquiry has the authority to put that officer on leave starting at any time and ending only after the Secretary of the Navy has closed the officer’s case.

Los Angeles International Airport Marine liaison has been removed as the point of contact for overseas Marines on emergency leave. The point of contact for all Marines on emergency leave is now their nearest Traffic Management Office.

Ellie