{"id":45187,"date":"2023-07-27T18:14:30","date_gmt":"2023-07-27T18:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/07\/27\/sailors-could-lose-time-off-under-special-leave-accrual-policy-changes\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:54:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:54:13","slug":"sailors-could-lose-time-off-under-special-leave-accrual-policy-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/07\/27\/sailors-could-lose-time-off-under-special-leave-accrual-policy-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Sailors could lose time off under special leave accrual policy changes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sailors could lose time off they earned during the COVID-19 pandemic under the Navy\u2019s special leave accrual policy<\/a> \u2014 if they don\u2019t use it before the end of September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because the Navy is altering its policy so sailors can keep only 90 days of leave in their special leave accrual, or SLA, balance, rather than 120 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The policy shift is expected to impact more than 300 sailors, Lt. Sarah Niles, a spokeswoman for the Chief of Naval Personnel, told Navy Times. It is a result of policy changes included in the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cService Members will lose any SLA leave in excess of 90 days (vice 120 days) on September 30, 2023 unless they had more than 90 days of SLA leave on the books on December 31, 2022,\u201d a new naval administrative message said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOther anticipated changes are that SLA leave will only be held for up to two years (vice three years) and that the first flag officer in the chain of command will need to approve SLA leave accrual in most cases,\u201d the NAVADMIN said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t