What happens with unused leave upon separation?

[bogatyr]

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To those who have previously separated from the service:

I miscalculated the amount of leave I would have when I submitted for terminal leave, so I will have some excess leave when I ETS. I have heard that you are paid for your unused leave, but at base pay only. Is this correct? So if I have 10 days of leave left I would get a deposit for 1/3 of 5774.70 = $1924.67?

I'm just trying to decide if it is worth my effort to try to ask for more terminal leave.

 

[numberwunn]

Unused leave gets sold back to you at your base pay rate. When you go to mock up your DD-214, your admin section should confirm this and tell you how much you will get.

A couple thoughts (maybe obvious/not applicable for you, but will include anyways)-

1) When you sell the leave back, you only get the base pay - vs base + BAH + BAS etc when you take the leave.

2) There is a cap to how much leave you can sell back (60 days over a career) - which become more valuable with ++ rank/time in service.

 

[NowEarThis]

Unused leave gets sold back to you at your base pay rate. When you go to mock up your DD-214, your admin section should confirm this and tell you how much you will get.

A couple thoughts (maybe obvious/not applicable for you, but will include anyways)-

1) When you sell the leave back, you only get the base pay - vs base + BAH + BAS etc when you take the leave.

2) There is a cap to how much leave you can sell back (60 days over a career) - which become more valuable with ++ rank/time in service.

Number is correct. Take your base pay, divide by 30 and then multiply that number by the number of days you want to sell back. Then don't forget to tax that total and that is roughly what you will get.

 

[j4pac]

Just curious.

Say that residency starts July 1, and has a one week orientation before starting (June 24).

I am an O-3 over 4 years at that time with a base pay of $5219. I have 60 leave days saved from the prior year, and 20 saved for the current year, putting me at 80 leave days total.

My date of separation is July 1...which is required in order for my $15,000 incentive pay to not be audited from the prior year.

I want to be able to sell the max amount of leave to help out with moving expenses, etc...which I believe is 60 days. I would get paid $7828 after taxes for selling back two months of leave. I would still have 20 days leave, so I would use that amount on my terminal leave (From June 12 until July 1).

Does that sound right?

 

[colbgw02]

Just curious.

Say that residency starts July 1, and has a one week orientation before starting (June 24).

I am an O-3 over 4 years at that time with a base pay of $5219. I have 60 leave days saved from the prior year, and 20 saved for the current year, putting me at 80 leave days total.

My date of separation is July 1...which is required in order for my $15,000 incentive pay to not be audited from the prior year.

I want to be able to sell the max amount of leave to help out with moving expenses, etc...which I believe is 60 days. I would get paid $7828 after taxes for selling back two months of leave. I would still have 20 days leave, so I would use that amount on my terminal leave (From June 12 until July 1).

Does that sound right?

Yes, with the caveat that everyone's post tax money will vary a little depending on deductions. Also, won't you end up with 22.5 days of leave from this year?

 

[j4pac]

Yes, with the caveat that everyone's post tax money will vary a little depending on deductions. Also, won't you end up with 22.5 days of leave from this year?

Awesome. Thanks for helping me understand that. Yes...technically I should have 22.5 days, but I may take a few days leave, so I made it 20 to be a round number.

There really should be a dedicated thread for folks getting out for residency. Lots to juggle: separation (decision to sell leave vs take terminal)...GI Bill...moving...decision to sell/rent current home (if owner)...decision to continue on in reserves vs national guard...VA healthcare.

 

[colbgw02]

Awesome. Thanks for helping me understand that. Yes...technically I should have 22.5 days, but I may take a few days leave, so I made it 20 to be a round number.

There really should be a dedicated thread for folks getting out for residency. Lots to juggle: separation (decision to sell leave vs take terminal)...GI Bill...moving...decision to sell/rent current home (if owner)...decision to continue on in reserves vs national guard...VA healthcare.

Going through this right now, and yes, it's very frustrating because the wheel gets reinvented every year because - of course - the old inventors are gone. The former military people around me all retired, and there's enough difference between retiring and separating that their experience isn't very instructive for me.

If you haven't already, you'll have to go through a Transition Assistance Program (TAP, formerly ACAP). The Navy may call it something different though. Anyway, one day of that class should be a VA counselor that'll go over the commonly used benefits, which is about the only useful thing from that whole week.

 

[Chonal Atresia]

You are much better off using your leave to moonlight rather than selling it back (if you can).

The military is raking you over the coals if you sell back leave. As a physician, you are being completely hosed.