Granting Educational Leave to a Serviceperson in the USA

People serving in the army can obtain a higher education. It is allowed to improve the qualifications and professional qualities of conscripts, contract servicepersons, officers, privates, warrant officers, and sergeants. For that, several requirements must be met. This article discusses DA Form 31 and the educational leave of servicepersons.

The procedure of granting

To formalize educational leave, the military person must do the following:

• Obtain a certificate from an educational institution. It specifies the period of study activities.
• Write a report to the head of the unit, stating the reasons and dates of receipt. Attach the available certificate to the report.
• Wait for the order to grant leave.
• After the end of the study activities, fill in the detachable part of the certificate in the dean’s office of the educational institution. Verify it with the signature and seal of the educational institution.
• Re-submit the completed certificate to the commander of the military unit.

For students in the adjunct faculty, the procedure is different:

• Before the start of the session, the rector sends a notice to the head of the military unit. The notice specifies the period of absence and the reasons for granting leave.
• After receiving the notice, the head of the military unit issues an order. It is sent from the unit to the military university. Thus, the participation of the serviceperson in the approval process is excluded.

Who Has the Right

Here are some facts it’s important to know:

• Any serviceperson can get higher or specialized secondary education.
• This right is directly enshrined in the current legislation.
• There are several reasons and conditions for which leave may be canceled or postponed.
• If a serviceperson is in the rank of warrant officer or other junior personnel, they are also entitled to a leave of absence for education.

It is important to consider other criteria that apply to all categories of military personnel:

• The education a serviceperson takes a leave for should be their first education. The law does not provide for granting leave to obtain a second higher and subsequent education.
• The educational institution should have a license.
• The military person must be trained in a part-time or full-time department.
• Tuition is paid from the budget. Study leave is not granted to students on a paid basis.

Denial of study leave

There are circumstances and situations when study leave is not granted, and the student is issued a certificate certified by the unit head. Such circumstances include:

• military exercises;
• camping trips;
• peacekeeping operations;
• military operations.

It is assumed that the military student is directly involved in these activities and their withdrawal from them is impossible. After submitting a certificate to the educational institution, the serviceperson is offered to take the leave on another date.

Conclusion

Higher or specialized secondary education significantly increases the serviceperson’s chances for promotion. That’s why it’s important to use your right to obtain a study leave to obtain knowledge. Remember — knowledge is power.