Special Leave Accrual (SLA)

Start Here If You Are New to SLA

Special Leave Accrual is the carryover authority that lets Marines keep more than the standard 60-day annual leave cap. Effective immediately per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25, Marines are authorized to carry over a maximum of 90 days total at the end of the fiscal year. 60 days of annual leave plus up to 30 days of SLA. SLA is restored leave for Marines unable to use earned leave due to qualifying duty (120+ days in a hostile fire or imminent danger area, deployable ship or mobile unit, restricted duty during catastrophes or contingency operations). The first Marine general officer in your admin chain approves SLA in writing. As of 2026-07-28, only the hostile fire and imminent danger path is approvable, see the suspension notice above. SLA expires at the end of the SECOND fiscal year after the qualifying duty ends.

This page walks you through SLA from your seat as a General Marine. By the end you will know.

• The 30-day SLA cap on top of 60-day annual leave (90 days total)
• The four qualifying duty types per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 6, three of them suspended per MARADMIN 341/26MARADMIN 341/26
• The first Marine GO approval requirement
• The FY+2 expiration framework
• The 30-day SLA balance gate (no new SLA until below 30)
• The COVID-19 transition deadline (use or lose by 30 September 2026)
• The one-time enlisted SLA sell-back option

Every fact on this page comes from MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 (10 April 2025), MARADMIN 341/26MARADMIN 341/26 (28 July 2026), MCO 1050.3JMCO 1050.3J Chapter 2 paragraph 9, DoDI 1327.06DoDI 1327.06 (2025-08-07 reissue), Public Law 117-263 section 632, and Title 37 U.S.C. section 501Title 37 U.S.C. section 501.

What SLA Is

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 3.c, SLA is restored accrued leave in excess of the maximum annual leave that may be carried forward from one FY to the next. SLA is only authorized under specific conditions outlined in paragraph 6 of MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25.

The Marine Corps designed SLA to compensate Marines whose duty environment prevented them from using earned leave before FY-end forfeiture.

The 90-Day Total Cap

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 2 (effective immediately, MARADMIN 474-23 canceled), Marines are authorized to carry over a maximum of 90 days of accrued leave from one fiscal year to the next. This includes.

• Up to 60 days of annual leave.
• Up to 30 days of SLA per the MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 framework.

A Marine with 90 days at FY-end loses NOTHING (assuming SLA is properly approved). A Marine with 95 days loses 5 days unless additional SLA was approved.

Comparison to Pre-2023 Rules

Before MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25, the cap framework was different. The current 90-day cap (60 annual + 30 SLA) is the controlling authority effective from the publication of MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25.

Qualifying Duties for SLA

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 6, four categories of qualifying duty justify SLA approval.

Hostile Fire or Imminent Danger Area

Per paragraph 6.a, serving at least 120 CONTINUOUS days in a location designated for Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay.

The 120-day threshold is the floor. Continuous service is required. A Marine who deploys to Iraq for 4 months (120 days) qualifies. A Marine who deploys for 60 days, returns for 30 days, and deploys for another 60 days does NOT qualify (the deployments are not continuous).

The Hostile Fire Pay and Imminent Danger Pay page covers the framework for designated CZ and HFP/IDP areas.

Deployable Ship or Mobile Unit (SUSPENDED)

Suspended per MARADMIN 341/26MARADMIN 341/26 until SECNAV designates qualifying ships and units. Requests under this category return without action. Per paragraph 6.b, serving on a deployable ship or with a mobile unit of the Operating Forces where the duty location prevents using earned leave before it expires at the end of the FY.

There is no fixed day count for this category. The eligibility is based on the duty location preventing leave use. Common Marine examples.

• A Marine on a 10-month MEU who cannot take 30 days of leave during the deployment.
• A Marine assigned to a forward-deployed unit during the high-tempo workup-deploy cycle.

Other Restricted Duty (Catastrophes, National Emergencies, Crises, Operations in Defense of National Security)

Suspended per MARADMIN 341/26MARADMIN 341/26 until SECNAV designates the qualifying duties. Requests under this category return without action. Per paragraph 6.c, serving at least 120 continuous days in other prescribed duties where leave is restricted due to.

• Catastrophes (natural disasters, mass casualty events).
• National emergencies.
• Crises.
• Operations in defense of national security.

Circumstances must exist preventing the Marine from reducing the leave balance to 60 days before FY-end. The Marine must be officially denied the opportunity to take leave. The 120-day continuous threshold applies.

Contingency Operations (SUSPENDED)

Suspended per MARADMIN 341/26MARADMIN 341/26 until SECNAV designates the qualifying operations. Requests under this category return without action. Per paragraph 6.d, Marines assigned to units, headquarters, or supporting staff are eligible for SLA if leave is restricted due to direct involvement in a designated contingency operation.

This category does not have an explicit day count. The eligibility is based on direct involvement in a designated contingency operation that restricts leave use.

Approval Authority

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 5.a, SLA requests that meet criteria must be authorized in writing by the FIRST Marine general officer in the Marine's administrative chain of command.

This is a high-level approval authority. The first Marine GO above the requesting Marine signs the written authorization. Per MARADMIN 341/26MARADMIN 341/26 paragraph 3.a, the GO does not possess authority to approve requests under the suspended categories, only the paragraph 6.a HFP and IDP path is approvable until SECNAV designations publish.

The Approval Process

1. The Marine submits the SLA request through the unit S-1 with documentation of the qualifying duty.
2. The S-1 routes the request through the chain of command to the first Marine general officer.
3. The Marine GO reviews the request against the qualifying duty criteria and approves or denies in writing.
4. The approved request is documented through MOL.
5. A copy of the approved request and the GO determination is uploaded to the Marine's Official Military Personnel File (OMPF) per paragraph 5.c.

MOL Reporting

Per paragraph 5.b, once approved, commanders report SLA details into Marine OnLine (MOL).

OMPF Documentation

Per paragraph 5.c, the Marine's administrative chain of command retains a copy of all approved SLA requests and ensures the final determination from the first Marine general officer is uploaded into the Marine's OMPF.

SLA Expiration

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 4, approved SLA is FORFEITED if not used by the end of the second FY after the qualifying duty ends.

Example

If a Marine has approved SLA in FY23 (the qualifying duty ended in FY23), the Marine must use the SLA by the end of FY25 (30 September 2025) or it is lost.

FY Calculation

The Marine Corps fiscal year runs from 1 October through 30 September. SLA expires on 30 September of the second FY after the qualifying duty ended.

• Qualifying duty ends in FY 2024 (Oct 2023 - Sep 2024). SLA must be used by 30 September 2026.
• Qualifying duty ends in FY 2025 (Oct 2024 - Sep 2025). SLA must be used by 30 September 2027.
• Qualifying duty ends in FY 2026 (Oct 2025 - Sep 2026). SLA must be used by 30 September 2028.

SLA Balance Gate (No New SLA Above 30 Days)

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 7.b, Marines will NOT be authorized additional SLA until their SLA balance is below 30 days.

This is a hard rule. The 30-day cap applies cumulatively. A Marine cannot stack additional SLA on top of an existing 30-day balance.

Example

A Marine has 30 days of SLA from a 2024 deployment. The Marine deploys again in 2025. New SLA is NOT approved until the Marine reduces the existing SLA balance below 30 days through leave use.

The Marine should plan leave usage to free up SLA capacity before subsequent qualifying duty triggers.

SLA Balance Visibility on the LES

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 7.c, Marines can find their SLA balance and FY expiration date on the Leave and Earnings Statement (LES).

The LES shows.

• SLA balance.
• SLA FY expiration date.
• Annual leave balance.
• Total leave balance (annual + SLA).

Verify the SLA balance and expiration each pay period to plan leave usage before FY-end.

COVID-19 Transition Period

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 7.a, Marines with SLA exceeding 90 days on 31 December 2022 (COVID-19 excess leave) must use or lose it by 30 September 2026.

This is a one-time transition window for COVID-era SLA balances that exceeded the post-2023 cap. Marines with COVID-era SLA above 90 days have 4 fiscal years (FY23 through FY26) to use or lose the excess.

One-Time SLA Sell-Back (Enlisted Only)

Per Public Law 117-263 section 632, Title 37 U.S.C. section 501Title 37 U.S.C. section 501, and MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 8, enlisted Marines losing accrued leave in excess of 90 days may elect to sell back up to 30 days of SLA.

Officer Exclusion

By law, this option does not apply to officers. Only enlisted Marines qualify.

Eligibility Conditions

Per paragraph 8.b, to qualify, an enlisted Marine must.

• Have leave exceeding 90 days, AND
• If not for the new 90-day accrued leave balance limit, the leave would have been restored as SLA.

Submission Process

Per paragraph 8.c, Marines electing to sell back SLA must submit supporting documentation through MOL to their administrative chain of command. Requests must include verification that leave exceeding 90 days would have qualified for SLA (e.g., leave was approved for SLA but cannot be restored due to exceeding the 90-day accrued leave balance limit).

One-Time Election

Per paragraph 8.d, an enlisted Marine may make this election ONLY ONCE in a career.

Counts Toward the 60-Day Career Sell-Back

Per paragraph 8.e, SLA sell-back counts toward the 60-day limit on total sell-back days an enlisted Marine has over the career. The Annual Leave page covers the broader sell-back framework.

SLA Eligibility Documentation

The Marine documents the qualifying duty per the framework in paragraph 6. Common documentation includes.

• Deployment orders showing the dates of HFP/IDP or contingency operation service.
• Letters of denial of leave from the deployed commander indicating the operational reason for the denial.
• Personnel records showing the dates of duty in the qualifying location.
• Service letters from the unit S-1 confirming the qualifying duty and the leave balance impact.

Verifying SLA on the LES

A monthly LES check confirms SLA entries are correct.

Step 1. Pull Your LES

Through MyPay each payday after the qualifying duty period.

Step 2. Verify the Leave Balance Section

The LES Leave Information section shows.

• BAL. Total accrued leave balance.
• USE/LOSE. Leave subject to forfeiture at end of FY.
• SLA balance and FY expiration date.

Step 3. Verify the FY Expiration

Confirm the SLA FY expiration date matches the second FY after the qualifying duty ended.

Step 4. Resolve Discrepancies

Coordinate with your S-1. The reporting unit (I&I S-1 with direct UD/MIPS access, or a battalion S-1 routing through their PAC) routes through DFAS Marine Corps Pay. SLA approval issues route through the chain of command to the first Marine GO.

Common Questions Marines Ask

I deployed to Iraq for 6 months. Do I qualify for SLA?

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 6.a, yes. Serving at least 120 continuous days in a location designated for Hostile Fire Pay or Imminent Danger Pay qualifies. 6 months exceeds the 120-day threshold. Submit the SLA request through your S-1 to the first Marine GO in your admin chain.

I am on a 10-month MEU. Do I qualify for SLA?

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 6.b, yes. Serving on a deployable ship where the duty location prevents using earned leave before FY-end qualifies. The MEU duty environment typically meets this criterion. Submit the request with documentation of the deployment dates and the inability to use leave during the deployment.

I have 30 days of SLA from a 2024 deployment. Can I get more SLA from a 2025 deployment?

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 7.b, no. Marines will not be authorized additional SLA until their SLA balance is below 30 days. You must use leave to reduce your SLA below 30 days before new SLA is approved.

When does my SLA expire?

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 4, approved SLA expires at the end of the second FY after the qualifying duty ends. If your qualifying duty ended in FY24, you must use the SLA by 30 September 2026.

Can officers do the one-time SLA sell-back?

Per Title 37 U.S.C. section 501Title 37 U.S.C. section 501 and MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 8.a, no. The one-time SLA sell-back is for enlisted Marines only. Officers cannot use this option.

I am an E-5 with 110 days of leave at end of FY. Can I sell back the excess?

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 8, you may qualify for the one-time SLA sell-back for up to 30 days. Submit documentation through MOL showing the leave was approved for SLA but exceeds the 90-day cap. The sell-back counts toward your 60-day career sell-back limit. You can only do this once.

I had COVID-era SLA above 90 days. What happens?

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 7.a, you must use or lose the excess by 30 September 2026. Plan your leave usage carefully to avoid forfeiture.

What documentation do I need to submit for SLA?

Documentation typically includes deployment orders, a letter of denial of leave from the deployed commander, personnel records showing the qualifying duty dates, and service letters confirming the qualifying duty. Coordinate with your S-1 for the specific format and routing.

Who approves my SLA?

Per MARADMIN 188/25MARADMIN 188/25 paragraph 5.a, the FIRST Marine general officer in your administrative chain of command approves SLA in writing. Your S-1 routes the request through the chain of command to that GO.

Where to Go for Help

Routing by Issue

• SLA request submission. Through MOL with documentation of the qualifying duty. Routes through your S-1 to the first Marine GO in your admin chain.
• SLA balance verification. The LES Leave Information section.
• SLA expiration date verification. The LES.
• One-time enlisted SLA sell-back election. Through MOL with documentation. Coordinate with your S-1.
• IPAC for general SLA questions. Per paragraph 9, all questions concerning SLA should be directed to the Marine's administration section or the local Installation Personnel Administration Center (IPAC).
• DFAS Marine Corps Pay direct contact. Phone 1-888-332-7411 (DSN 312-571-9450 from overseas).

Where to Go Next on This Site

• Leave and Liberty landing page lists all the leave and liberty topics.
• Annual Leave covers the foundational 2.5 days/month accrual and 60-day cap.
• Liberty and Special Liberty covers the parallel liberty framework.
• Hostile Fire Pay and Imminent Danger Pay covers the HFP/IDP designation.
• Terminal Leave covers the end-of-service leave framework.

Related Roles

• Leaders track Marines' SLA eligibility and ensure SLA requests are submitted through the chain when qualifying duty completes.
• Admin at S-1 processes SLA requests through MOL and routes to the first Marine GO. Maintain OMPF documentation.
• Commanders endorse SLA requests up the chain to the first Marine GO. Brief Marines on SLA visibility in the LES.

SLA carries forward leave above 60 days when qualifying duty prevents leave use. Up to 30 days of SLA on top of 60 annual leave (90 total cap). The first Marine GO approves in writing. SLA expires at end of second FY after qualifying duty ends. The one-time enlisted sell-back option applies only to leave above 90 days. Plan leave usage to avoid SLA forfeiture.