The completion of Basic Military Training (BMT) marks a significant milestone for new service members, often leading to questions about the possibility of immediate time off before continuing their military career. Policies regarding post-graduation leave are not uniform, varying widely across the different branches and depending heavily on the structure of the next training phase. Recruits should manage their expectations, as the needs of the service and the training pipeline often dictate a rapid transition to advanced instruction. Understanding the specific regulations and the different types of authorized absences is necessary for navigating the period immediately following graduation.
Immediate Transition After Graduation
New personnel typically spend 24 to 72 hours post-graduation completing out-processing procedures at the training base. This involves turning in unnecessary issued gear, completing final administrative paperwork, and receiving travel orders to the next location. For many, the movement to the next phase of training is nearly immediate, leaving minimal time for an extended absence.
Service members attending follow-on training at the same installation often transition straight into their new barracks, sometimes on the day of graduation. Those traveling to a different base for advanced instruction may be granted a brief period of time, known as liberty, to spend with family who traveled for the ceremony. This short window is subject to strict rules, including curfews and geographic restrictions, and does not constitute formal, chargeable leave. The goal of this immediate period is to facilitate the service member’s smooth and timely arrival at their next duty station.
Understanding Different Types of Military Leave
Military personnel accrue Standard Annual Leave, or chargeable leave, at a standardized rate of 2.5 days for every month of active duty service, totaling 30 days per year. This time is deducted from the service member’s accrued balance when used. New recruits typically accumulate only a few days by the time they complete BMT, which limits post-graduation time off.
Permissive Temporary Duty (P-TDY) is a non-chargeable absence used for specific purposes, such as house hunting. P-TDY is rarely authorized immediately after BMT, as new recruits do not yet have a permanent duty station. Holiday Block Leave (HBL) is a mandatory, non-chargeable stand-down period instituted by the Army during the winter holidays. HBL allows trainees to use unearned leave days, resulting in a negative leave balance that is paid back by future accruals.
Branch-Specific Policies on Post-BMT Leave
Post-BMT policies vary significantly across the services.
Army
The Army is unique in its system of Holiday Block Leave (HBL), pausing both Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) in mid-December. Soldiers participating in HBL often use advanced leave, resulting in a temporary negative balance. Outside of HBL, Army trainees move directly from BMT to AIT. Leave is typically authorized only after AIT is complete, before reporting to the first operational unit.
Air Force and Space Force
These branches generally mandate a direct transition from BMT to Technical School, with little to no leave authorized between the two phases. Airmen and Guardians are encouraged to take accrued leave after graduating from Technical School, before traveling to their first permanent assignment. This post-Technical School leave is often limited to around 10 days, though personnel can apply for advanced leave if necessary.
Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard
The Navy and Marine Corps maintain restricted leave policies immediately following boot camp due to structured training. New Sailors typically transfer immediately from Recruit Training Command to their specialized A-School. The Marine Corps often grants a mandatory 10 days of chargeable leave immediately after graduation, before the recruit reports to the School of Infantry (SOI) or Marine Combat Training (MCT). The Coast Guard is sometimes an exception, granting new personnel up to a week of leave before they report to their first operational assignment.
How Advanced Training Dictates Leave Schedules
The schedule of the next training phase is the most significant factor determining time off. The immediate commencement of Advanced Individual Training (AIT), Technical School, or A-School is the default for every branch. These follow-on programs have specific class start dates that cannot be missed, blocking opportunities for unscheduled absence. When BMT graduation aligns perfectly with the start date of advanced instruction, the transition is often called “bubble-to-bubble,” meaning no leave is possible.
Leave becomes a possibility only if there is a logistical gap between BMT completion and the next course start date. If a class slot is not immediately available, the service member may be held in a casual status, and a period of leave might be authorized during this waiting time. Leave is not guaranteed and remains subject to the needs of the training command. Once engaged in advanced training, leave is generally restricted to official holiday periods or granted only for verified family emergencies.
The Process for Requesting and Approving Leave
Any request for chargeable time off must be submitted through the current chain of command, typically the Drill Sergeant or Training Instructor. Formal leave requests require specific documentation, such as the DA Form 31 (the Army’s Request and Authority for Leave). This form requires the service member to provide personal details, the type of leave requested, the destination address, and contact information.
The request is reviewed and must be approved by a senior authority, such as the unit commander. Approval is discretionary and is always subject to the principle of “convenience of the service,” meaning the military mission takes precedence over the individual request. For chargeable leave to be approved, the recruit must have sufficient accrued leave days. If a recruit wishes to take more days than earned, they can request advanced leave, which requires authorization from the commanding officer.
Practical Logistics During Post-BMT Time Off
Service members authorized to take post-BMT leave must adhere to several logistical requirements:
- They are typically required to travel in the appropriate military uniform, often the service dress uniform, ensuring they are identifiable while in transit.
- Pay continues while on leave, but the service member is responsible for all expenses associated with travel to and from the leave destination.
- Travel costs are only covered by the military for the direct route from the old duty station to the new one.
- Recruits must manage their military gear, transporting it or arranging for storage based on branch policy.
Maintaining contact with the command and returning by the exact time specified on the approved leave form is strictly enforced, as failure to return on time can result in disciplinary action.