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| 171201-N-GN619-065 Portsmouth, Va. (Dec. 1, 2017) – Grieving families and supports form a prayer circle in memory of the infants during the Perinatal Bereavement Candle Lighting Remembrance Service at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP). The service included the sharing of music, words of encouragement, prayers of hope and candles lit in honor and memory of infants who have passed for various reasons. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kris R. Lindstrom) |
On 8 May 23, the Secretary of the Army signed a memorandum (text follows) which announces bereavement leave entitlements for eligible Soldiers in connection with the death of a spouse or child. The signed memo, and FAQs, are attached at the following link on S1NET. https://usg01.safelinks.protection.office365.us/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.milsuite.mil%2Fbook%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1250793&data=05%7C01%7Chyun.j.chang.mil%40army.mil%7C9f28196bec814757212b08db5239b50b%7Cfae6d70f954b481192b60530d6f84c43%7C0%7C0%7C638194180036444195%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=7T3Mpem1Cq1Vd1kqugh4hDdVyHDf3fMVSD6jX1GK3W8%3D&reserved=0 SUBJECT: Bereavement Leave for Soldiers 1.References. a. Title 10, United States Code, section 701 (Entitlement and accumulation) b. Public Law 117-81 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022),27 December 2021, section 622 c. Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 1327.06 (Leave and Liberty Policy and Procedures), 16 June 2009, incorporating Change 4, effective 15 January 2021 d. Directive-type Memorandum 23-003 (Bereavement Leave for Service Members),29 March 2023 e. Army Regulation (AR) 600–8–10 (Leave and Passes), 3 June 2020 f. AR 600–20 (Army Command Policy), 24 July 2020 2. Purpose. The loss of a spouse or child has a significant detrimental effect on a Soldier’s ability to perform assigned duties. This memorandum announces bereavement leave entitlements for eligible Soldiers in connection with the death of a spouse or child. For definitions of terms used in these policy provisions, see the enclosure. 3. Pursuant to references 1a–1d, eligible Soldiers of the Regular Army, Army National Guard/Army National Guard of the United States, and the U.S. Army Reserve may be authorized up to 14 consecutive days of non-chargeable bereavement leave to be taken during the period of bereavement based on the eligible Soldier’s accrued ordinary leave balance on the date of such death. a. Eligible Soldiers whose spouse or child died on or after 25 June 2022, and who have fewer than 30 days of accrued ordinary leave on the date of such death, are eligible for up to 14 consecutive days of bereavement leave. b. Eligible Soldiers whose spouse or child died on or after 25 June 2022, and who have 30 or more days of accrued ordinary leave on the date of such death, are eligible for up to 14 consecutive days of bereavement leave once their accrued ordinary leave is less than 30 days. c. Eligible Soldiers whose spouse or child died on or after 25 June 2022, and who were charged leave in connection with the death of a spouse or child, may request leave be restored through the established process in reference 1e. Such leave will be restored if the eligible Soldier would have been eligible for bereavement leave as described in this policy and the eligible Soldier has not separated or retired from service. 4. Approval Authority and Procedures. Company-level or equivalent commanders may approve bereavement leave for eligible Soldiers. Commanders must consider the significance of the event and its impact on the Soldier and the Family when approving bereavement leave. The authority to disapprove a bereavement leave request is withheld to the first general officer in the Soldier’s chain of command. Swift and sensitive action on bereavement leave requests will be made to avoid additional stress on Soldiers and their Families. a. Company-level or equivalent commanders may consider an eligible Soldier’s self-certification of the death of their spouse or child to approve a request for bereavement leave. b. Company-level or equivalent commanders will require the eligible Soldier to provide administratively acceptable documentation within 30 calendar days after returning to duty. If the eligible Soldier fails to provide the required documentation, the company-level or equivalent commander will direct that the Soldier’s ordinary leave account be reduced by the number of days of bereavement leave taken. c. The period of bereavement is the timeframe in which eligible Soldiers may take bereavement leave. The period of bereavement begins on the date of death of the spouse or child and ends on the date that is no later than 14 consecutive days after the deceased person’s funeral, burial, or memorial service, whichever occurs last. d. Eligible Soldiers who initially request and are authorized less than 14 consecutive days of bereavement leave may be authorized to extend the period of bereavement leave up to 14 consecutive days, so long as all of the bereavement leave is taken in one increment. e. Company-level or equivalent commanders may extend the period of bereavement for eligible Soldiers as a result of operational requirements or other extenuating circumstances. f. Bereavement leave may be authorized in combination with chargeable leave (such as emergency leave, ordinary leave, and advance leave) and other types of non-chargeable leave (such as convalescent leave and emergency leave of absence). Bereavement leave does not need to be taken prior to using other types of leave. g. Eligible Soldiers will not be authorized bereavement leave in connection with the death of a person who is not their spouse or child. Other forms of leave, as appropriate, are authorized in accordance with reference 1e. h. Eligible Soldiers will not be authorized bereavement leave in connection with a stillbirth or miscarriage. Other forms of leave, as appropriate, are authorized in accordance with reference 1e. i. Eligible Soldiers will not be extended on, or recalled back to, active service solely to permit the use of bereavement leave. j. Eligible Soldiers whose misconduct resulted in the death of their spouse or child will not be authorized bereavement leave. 5.The Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) is the proponent for this policy. The Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 will incorporate these provisions into AR 600–8–10 and AR 600–20 as appropriate.
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