New leave policies announced Published July 10, 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Defense is presently coordinating a conforming change to the DoD Instruction governing leave and liberty for the U.S. Armed Forces, it was announced by Pentagon officials June 24. For clarity and ease of use, the revised issuance will incorporate all previous policy changes since the last publication and should be published within the next few months, the guidance said. The following four new leave policies are effective immediately, retroactive to the date of the National Defense Authorization Act, dated Jan. 28, 2008: 1) Annual leave accrual is temporarily (until Dec. 31, 2010) increased from 60 to 75 dates. Service members may now carry over up to 75 dates of accrued leave, beginning with the fiscal year change over from FY08 to FY09 (i.e. a Service member with 75 days of leave on Sept. 30, will not lose that leave on Oct. 1.) 2) Special leave accrual retention limits are increased. Under the new limits, SLA earned in combat zones may now be kept for four fiscal years; SLA earned in support of operations may now be kept for two fiscal years. Absent further statutory revisions, the higher combat zone retention limit applies only to SLA accumulated during the period Oct. 1, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2010. 3) An additional one-time SLA sell back is authorized for enlisted Service members. Under this provision, an enlisted Service member may sell back up to 30 days of SLA (this does not apply to officers). Such a sell back counts towards the Service member's cap of 60 days over a career. This provision has no termination date. 4) Authorized special rest and recuperation absence with transportation benefit is increased from 15 to 20 days. This applies to personnel completing an overseas duty tour extension longer than 12 months. This SR&R authorization is distinct from and not to be confused with the rest and recuperations program in paragraph 6.15 of DoD Instruction 1327.6, "Leave and Liberty Procedures," April 22, 2005.