DA Form 31: Request and Authority for Leave

DA Form 31, Request and Authority for Leave, is the U.S. Army form service members use to request and document authorized leave, pass, or permissive temporary duty. The form records the type of leave, the start and end dates, the address and contact information during leave, and the approvals required from the chain of command. Soldiers use DA Form 31 to request ordinary leave, emergency leave, terminal leave at the end of service, and other authorized absences, and the form serves as the official record that the leave was approved and the dates accounted for. Proper completion and approval are important because leave affects pay, accountability, and the soldier's leave balance. The form moves through the approving authority for signature before the leave begins. Because DA Form 31 is the Army's official mechanism for authorizing and tracking leave, soldiers should complete it accurately and obtain the required approvals before departing, and retain a copy as their record of authorized absence.

DA Form 31 is used to request several categories of authorized absence in the Army, including ordinary leave, emergency leave, terminal leave, and permissive temporary duty. Ordinary leave is the standard paid leave that soldiers accrue and use for personal time. Emergency leave is granted for urgent family situations, such as a serious illness or death in the immediate family, and is processed quickly. Terminal leave is leave taken at the end of a soldier's service, often used to transition out before the official separation date. Permissive temporary duty allows absence for specific purposes, such as job hunting near the end of service or house hunting, often without charging leave. The form identifies which type applies and the corresponding dates and approvals. Because each type has its own rules on accrual, pay, and documentation, soldiers should select the correct category on DA Form 31 and follow their unit's procedures for the type of leave they are requesting.

DA Form 31 is approved by the soldier's chain of command, with the specific approving authority depending on the type and length of leave and unit policy. Routine ordinary leave is typically approved by the soldier's commander or a designated leave approval authority, while certain absences, longer leave, or travel outside specified areas may require higher-level approval. The form flows from the soldier through their supervisor and the approving official, who signs to authorize the leave before it begins. Emergency leave may follow an expedited approval process given its urgent nature. The approval ensures the unit accounts for the soldier's absence, that the leave does not conflict with mission requirements, and that the soldier's leave balance supports the request. Because leave must be authorized before departure, soldiers should submit DA Form 31 with enough lead time for the chain of command to review and sign it. Following the unit's specific routing and approval procedures ensures the leave is properly authorized.

DA Form 31 is important for a soldier's records because it is the official documentation that leave was authorized and accounts for the soldier's status during the absence, which affects pay and leave balance. The form establishes that the soldier was on approved leave rather than absent without authorization, which is significant because unauthorized absence carries serious consequences under military regulations. The recorded dates determine how much leave is charged against the soldier's accrued balance and ensure the soldier is accounted for by the unit. The contact and address information on the form allows the unit to reach the soldier if needed, such as for a recall. Keeping a copy protects the soldier if questions later arise about whether an absence was authorized or how much leave was used. Because the form ties directly to accountability, pay, and leave accounting, completing DA Form 31 correctly and retaining the approved copy safeguards the soldier's record of authorized leave.

A soldier should submit DA Form 31 in advance of planned leave, allowing enough time for the chain of command to review and approve it before the leave begins. For ordinary leave, units typically expect requests to be submitted days or weeks ahead so the approving authority can confirm that the absence fits mission requirements and that the soldier has adequate leave accrued. Terminal leave at the end of service and permissive temporary duty also require advance submission and coordination, often well before the separation date. Emergency leave is the exception, since urgent family situations require expedited processing, and units have procedures to authorize emergency leave quickly while still documenting it on DA Form 31. Because leave must be authorized before a soldier departs, submitting the form early reduces the risk of delays or an unauthorized absence. Following the unit's timelines and routing for DA Form 31 ensures the leave is approved and properly recorded before the soldier leaves.