ART leave no longer authorized

  • Published
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) --  Volunteerism by Air Force Reserve Command's full-time military technicians may drop as result of a new interpretation of law.

Air reserve technicians can no longer use 44 days of military leave while serving on active duty outside the continental United States, said officials in the office of the secretary of defense for reserve affairs.

Congress established the leave program Feb. 10, 1996, through the National Defense Authorization Act to encourage ARTs to volunteer for noncombat duties overseas. The program reduces the need for technicians to take annual leave or leave without pay to serve overseas. Technicians are federal civil service employees who also serve as Air Force reservists in the same position. When using this form of military leave, they are in an active-duty status without military pay, receive their civilian paychecks and accrue points toward a reserve retirement.

AFRC officials had interpreted the law to mean that only those who were activated or recalled supporting current contingency operations were prohibited from using this type of leave. Those who had volunteered for active duty were allowed to use the 44 days of military leave while supporting operations overseas.

However, once a national emergency is declared, no one can use it, said Margaret Keith, a human resources specialist in AFRC's civilian personnel division.

"It will affect all technicians," she said.

Although there are 10,000 authorized technician positions in the command, not all people take advantage of this type of leave.

"We expect it will impact volunteerism because they will have to use leave without pay," Ms. Keith said. "We know some employees may no longer volunteer for contingencies if this is not available."

While in the 44-day leave status, the technicians are covered by the Uniform Code of Military Justice. They are eligible for compensation because of injury under line-of-duty procedures, and they are reimbursed for travel, per diem and lodging on the same basis as their military entitlements.

Lt. Gen. James E. Sherrard III, AFRC commander, asked Ms. Keith's division to submit a legislative initiative to change the law thereby allowing technicians to use the leave during national emergencies. If approved, the change could take up to two years before becoming law, Ms. Keith said. (Courtesy of AFRC News Service)