As an active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces, you’ll earn 30 days of paid vacation (known as leave) for every year you serve. If you serve for three years, for instance, you’ll earn 90 days of leave. This can essentially be redeemed for three months of paid vacation. It’s important to note, however, that up to 60 days can be accrued over a two year period. If you serve for less than two years, you’ll earn 2.5 days of leave for every month of service. The balance is checked on the first day of the fiscal year, with any remaining leave over 60 days being forfeited.
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Now, if you have leave remaining on your account when discharged or when you re-enlist, you may be able to sell it back. The value of leave days is 1/30 of what you would earn. So, selling one day of leave would essentially give you 1/30th of an extra day’s worth of cash — a portion of the amount of cash that you would have earned while serving for a day.
Service members are restricted, however, to selling no more than 60 days worth of leave. If you have 90 days of leave, for instance, you can only sell 60 days worth of that leave back to the military. This is why many soldiers only take a part of their leave, selling the remainder back to the military. Furthermore, you cannot sell leave if you are discharged for accepting commission or warrant in uniformed service.
There are other things to consider when selling back leave days. For starters, you can only sell back leave days when you reenlist, extend an enlistment, or when you are discharged. It’s also worth noting that taxes are withheld from your final payment, with the federal government taking 25% and your respective state taking another piece (varies depending on state).
Hopefully, this gives you a better understanding of when and how to sell back your leave days. If you don’t plan on using them, selling leave days is a great way to put some extra cash in your pocket.
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About the author
Barry Mason is a proud third-generation American whose grandfather served in World War II. Born and raised in small-town Tennessee, Barry developed a deep appreciation for American history and traditions from an early age, learning about the sacrifices made by previous generations. Barry has spent over a decade writing about flag etiquette, patriotic traditions, military history, and the stories behind America's most cherished symbols. When he's not researching the fascinating history of Old Glory, you can find Barry volunteering at veterans' events, coaching youth baseball, or exploring America's national parks with his family. A firm believer in supporting American manufacturing and small businesses, Barry is passionate about celebrating the craftspeople who keep American traditions alive. He lives with his wife and two children in a home where the American flag flies proudly every day. Favorite quote: "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction." - Ronald Reagan
