DAFI 36-3003: MILITARY LEAVE PROGRAM

DAFI 36-3003 — index record

Number	DAFI 36-3003
Title	MILITARY LEAVE PROGRAM
Published	February 26, 2026
Certified current	February 26, 2026
Office of primary responsibility	AF/A1
Issued by	Headquarters, Department of the Air Force
Status on the index	Current
Last index action	Rewrite, February 27, 2026
Source index	Air Force e-Publishing
Index last read	October 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (55 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

Established to provide service members respite from the work environment which has a beneficial effect on an individual’s psychological and physical status.

Summary of changes, as printed

This document has been substantially revised and needs to be completely reviewed. This instruction applies to uniformed members of the Regular Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and the Air National Guard serving under the provisions of 10 USC or full-time under 32 USC This instruction also applies to the USSF unless and until such time as separate service guidance is published. In this event, USSF guidance shall prevail in application to the USSF. This instruction incorporates the updates to the Military Parental Leave Program (MPLP) to include Active Duty Parental Leave (ADPL), Inactive Duty Parental Leave (IDPL), and Reserve Component Maternity Leave (RCML) implemented by DoDI 1327.06, Military Leave, Liberty, and Administrative Absence, which provides a nomenclature for ADPL and incorporates the IDPL, which authorizes 12 IDPL periods to covered service members after a qualifying birth event, adoption of a minor child or who have a minor child placed with them for adoption or long-term foster care and updates RCML, which authorizes six RCML periods after the birth of a child. Furthermore, this instruction includes updates to the Non-Chargeable Leave Types Table 4.1., Rule 2, MPLP, which includes both ADPL and IDPL and updates Rule 3, RCML. The IDPL is retroactive for any members with a qualifying event that occurred between 1 October 2024, and 7 August 2025 and will have 1 year from 7 August 2025 to use the benefit.

Chapter 1—OVERVIEWp. 5
Chapter 2—MANAGING THE LEAVE PROGRAMp. 8
Chapter 3—CHARGEABLE LEAVEp. 13
Chapter 4—NON-CHARGEABLE LEAVEp. 23
Chapter 5—REGULAR AND SPECIAL PASSESp. 65
Chapter 6—SPECIAL LEAVE ACCRUALp. 67
Chapter 7—UNIQUE LEAVE PROVISIONSp. 71
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 78

All 44 contents entries

Chapter 1—OVERVIEWp. 5
1.1. Overviewp. 5
1.2. Roles and Responsibilitiesp. 5
Chapter 2—MANAGING THE LEAVE PROGRAMp. 8
2.1. Military Leave Programp. 8
2.2. Leave Approval Authorityp. 8
2.3. Leave Disapproval Authorityp. 8
2.4. Leave Accrualp. 8
2.5. Leave Awaiting Orders as a Result of Disability Proceedingsp. 10
2.6. Holidaysp. 10
2.7. Miscellaneous Informationp. 10
Chapter 3—CHARGEABLE LEAVEp. 13
3.1. Purposep. 13
3.2. Chargeable Leavep. 13
Chapter 4—NON-CHARGEABLE LEAVEp. 23
4.1. Purposep. 23
4.2. Non-chargeable Leavep. 23
Chapter 5—REGULAR AND SPECIAL PASSESp. 65
5.1. Regular and Special Pass Informationp. 65
5.2. Regular Passp. 65
5.3. Special Passp. 65
5.4. Regular and Special Pass Guidelinesp. 65
Chapter 6—SPECIAL LEAVE ACCRUALp. 67
6.1. Overviewp. 67
6.2. SLA Eligibilityp. 67
6.3. SLA Not Authorizedp. 68
6.4. Calculating SLA Lost on 1 Octoberp. 68
6.5. SLA Approval Authorityp. 69
6.6. SLA Disapprovalp. 69
6.7. Exceptions To Policy (ETP)p. 69
6.8. Members not eligible for SLAp. 69
6.9. Submitting SLA Requestsp. 69
6.10. Last In, First Out Leave Accountingp. 69
Chapter 7—UNIQUE LEAVE PROVISIONSp. 71
7.1. Consecutive Overseas Tour (COT)p. 71
7.2. In-Place Consecutive Overseas Tour (IPCOT)p. 71
7.3. Deferred COTp. 71
7.4. Scheduling Travelp. 71
7.5. COT or IPCOT Designated Placesp. 72
7.7. R&Rp. 73
7.8. Air Force Academy Leave Programp. 74
7.9. RC or SFAS-NSD Carryover Leavep. 74
7.10. RC OCONUS Leave En routep. 76
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 78

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DAFI 36-3003

DAFI 36-3003 — index record

From the publication itself

Purpose, in the publication’s words

Summary of changes, as printed

Contents

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