The Navy announced plans to implement a new Defense Department policy that allows reservists to carry over leave earned during an active-duty period to a later period. Under the change, reservists can now earn and carry over 60 days of accrued leave. Congress approved carryover of as much as 75 days’ leave, as long as it is accrued between Oct. 1, 2008, and Sept. 30, 2013. Both active-duty and reserve sailors who serve in combat tax exclusion zones could be eligible to carry over as much as 120 days’ accrued leave. Service members could also have the option to sell the leave back to the service upon separation from active-duty periods, when they leave the service honorably, or when they retire. Details are outlined in NAVADMIN 163/12, viewable at www.navy.mil.
