Dreading the paperwork for your military leave request? A DA Form 31 serves as your legal ticket to temporary leave from U.S. military service. This form becomes your key to freedom whether you need a vacation or must handle an emergency.
Your approved absence requires a completed official army DA Form 31. This applies to emergency leave requests, granted passes, and temporary duty travel. The rules state that you must fill out this document yourself – no one else can do it for you. Many soldiers ask about the DA 31 form’s purpose and proper completion methods, which led us to create this detailed guide. Our step-by-step tutorial features a DA form 31 example that will help you complete yours quickly.
Let’s help you submit your leave request correctly on your first try!
Step 1: Fill Out Part I – Personal and Leave Details
The DA Form 31’s first part captures your personal and leave details. Your unit will provide a control number at the top of the form.
Box 2 requires your full legal name (Last, First, Middle Initial). Your DOD ID number goes in Box 3, which now replaces the Social Security Number on newer form versions. Write your rank in Box 4 and use YYYYMMDD format to enter the current date in Box 5.
Your complete leave address should be written in Box 6 with street, city, state, ZIP code, and a contact phone number during your absence. Box 7 needs your organization’s details, station, POC email, and phone number.
The type of absence goes in Box 8. Mark the right checkbox (Chargeable, Non-Chargeable, or Combination) and specify your leave category (Annual, Emergency, etc.).
Boxes 9a-9c need your leave dates (from/to) in YYYYMMDD format along with total requested days. Box 10a should show your accrued leave balance.
Your signature belongs in Box 11. After signing, submit the form to your supervisor who will handle Boxes 12-13 with their recommendation and approval.
Step 2: Complete Part II – Emergency Leave (If Applicable)
DA Form 31’s Part II needs special attention if you have a family emergency leave request. Commanders can authorize this section only for qualifying emergency leave situations.
You can request emergency leave in these specific cases:
- Death or serious medical condition of an immediate family member
- A dying relative needs your presence
- Family problems that need your immediate attention and can’t be handled remotely
- Your absence from home would cause severe hardship
The military allows emergency leave of absence only once in your entire career. You can take up to 14 consecutive days without it affecting your leave balance, which prevents you from going into advanced or excess leave status.
Your unit command needs your DA Form 31 with supporting documents. These documents usually include a Red Cross message (if available), dependent passport information (if applicable), and any loco parentis statements.
The approved Part II will have all your transportation details, including return procedures. You will get authorization to travel officially with instructions to report to the Aerial Port of Embarkation for onward movement. Any travel beyond what’s officially authorized will count against your leave time.
Step 3: Fill Out Part III – Dependent Travel and Final Authorization
Part III of the DA Form 31 deals with dependent travel authorization. You need to complete this section only when traveling with dependents like a spouse, children, or a dependent parent.
The top section of Part III requires you to mark your transportation needs as either “ONE WAY” or “ROUND TRIP”. This shows whether your dependents need single or return travel arrangements.
Block 25 needs detailed information about each dependent through four essential fields:
- DEPENDENTS – Enter the full name (Last, First, Middle Initial) of each dependent traveling with you
- RELATIONSHIP – Specify how each person is related to you (spouse, son, daughter, etc.)
- DATES OF BIRTH – Required only for children, enter in the appropriate format
- PASSPORT NUMBER – Include valid passport numbers for each dependent
Remember that dependents who travel separately to a location other than your new Permanent Duty Station (PDS) need authorization in your PCS orders. You must submit a separate dependent/DLA travel voucher (DD Form 1351-2) to the gaining Finance Office in these cases.
The authentication for travel authorization section should remain blank. Only the official who authorizes your travel request can complete this area.
Conclusion
The DA Form 31 might look intimidating at first glance. This step-by-step guide will help you submit your leave request with confidence. Your form works as an official authorization document, so accuracy is vital throughout the process.
Each section needs specific attention to detail. The personal information in Part I must be spot-on. Part II needs proper documentation for emergency leave requests. Part III requires accurate listing of all dependent information when needed.
Dates and formats play a significant role in the form. Use the YYYYMMDD format and list exact leave durations to avoid delays in processing your request. Make sure your contact details during leave stay up-to-date and complete.
Without doubt, a properly filled DA Form 31 makes the approval process smooth and helps your unit track accountability. The paperwork might feel tedious, but these 10 minutes of work can save you from future hassles.
This piece aims to make your leave request process easier. A careful approach to these steps lets you spend less time on paperwork and more time focusing on military duties or enjoying your time off.
