The Federal Government is committed to supporting the military and their families in accordance with applicable law. A variety of leave-related benefits are available to current and former service members and their families.

Annual Leave Accrual

Federal employees accrue leave, which is accumulated through years of service. For non-retired members, full credit for uniformed service (including active duty and active duty for training) performed under honorable conditions is given for annual leave accrual purposes. Most military retirees cannot receive leave accrual credit, however, unless certain conditions are met as follows:

• Actual service during a war declared by Congress or while participating in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge is authorized. OR, 
• All active duty when retirement was based on a disability received as a direct result of armed conflict or caused by an instrumentality of war and incurred in the line of duty during a period of war.

Military Leave

An employee is entitled to time off at full pay for certain types of active or inactive duty in the National Guard or as a Reserve of the Armed Forces.

Any full-time Federal civilian employee whose appointment is not limited to 1 year is entitled to military leave. Military leave under 5 U.S.C. 6323(a) is prorated for part-time career employees and employees on an uncommon tour of duty.

Disabled Veteran Leave

Established under the Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015 (Wounded Warriors Act), disabled veteran leave will be available to any Federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service-connected disability rating of 30 percent or more. The Wounded Warriors Act established the effective date of implementation one year after passage of the Act, which will be November 5, 2016.

Disabled veteran leave is available as a one-time benefit during a 12-month period beginning on an eligible employee’s “first day of employment” and may not exceed 104 hours for a regular full-time employee. Disabled veteran leave can only be used for undergoing medical treatment of a qualifying service-connected disability, which was incurred or aggravated in the line of active duty.

Eligible employees must be “hired” on or after November 5, 2016. OPM regulations define the term “hired” to include:

• Newly hired with no previous Federal service;
• Reappointed with at least a 90-day break in service; and
• Military reservists or members of the National Guard who return to duty in their civilian positions after a period of military service