Special Leave Accrual (SLA) allows Service members serving in hostile fire / imminent danger (HFP/IDP) areas for a continuous period of at least 120 days to accumulate and retain up to 90 days of leave (60 days of ordinary leave, plus 30 days of SLA-protected leave). The intent of SLA is to provide relief to Service members not allowed leave during lengthy deployments or during periods of hostility.
Effective January 1, 2023: The SLA maximum leave CAP was reduced from 120 to 90 days, and Service members have two fiscal years (vice three) to use the excess leave above 60 days. The end of fiscal year 2023 (September 30, 2023) was the first point at which the 90 days applied. Service members who had a current SLA balance over 60 days fell into one of two categories, which was determined by their overall SLA leave balance as of December 31, 2022. Currently, Service members who have SLA leave balance at 90.5 days and have their SLA expiration date between FY25 to FY26 will have their leave restored to the original balance.
Category 1: Service members who have SLA leave balance of 90 days or below on September 30, 2024.
- Will have a new SLA cap of 90 days applied to their SLA leave balances in FY25
- Any excess leave above 90 days will be forfeited by September 30, 2024
Category 2: Service members who have SLA leave balance of 90.5 days or above on September 30, 2024.
- Normal 120 day cap applies
- Service members’ original SLA expiration date will stay the same
- When the Service member’s balance decreases to 90 days or below, between FY24 to FY26, the Service member will be moved to category 1, and the 90 day cap applied going forward
One-Time Leave Payment. An enlisted Service member of the Armed Forces who would lose accumulated leave in excess of the 90 days may elect to be paid a lump sum payment of up to 30 days of forfeited leave. This election can only be taken once during a career. This leave payment does apply against the 60 days of leave paid during a career.
Eligibility
SLA is authorized to Service members serving at least 120 continuous days in HFP/IDP areas. No additional criteria are required under this area 
for approval. Also, Service members assigned to a designated deployable ship, designated mobile unit, or other similar prescribed duty may be authorized SLA if operational requirements prevented use of leave.
Service members who meet all the following conditions may also qualify for special leave accrual:
- Deployed for a lengthy period, normally 60 or more days
- Deployed to meet a contingency operation of the United States
- Deployed to enforce national policy or an international agreement based on a national emergency or in the need to defend national security
- Prevented from using leave through the end of the FY because of deployment.
Service members may continue to qualify for the 120-day requirement for up to 90 days when hospitalized outside of the hostile fire area. Qualification is based on continued eligibility for hostile fire or imminent danger pay.
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