RESUMPTION OF SPECIAL LEAVE ACCRUAL (SLA) AND DESIGNATION OF QUALIFYING UNITS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026

R 031900Z NOV 26
MARADMIN 545/26
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MP/MPO//
SUBJ/RESUMPTION OF SPECIAL LEAVE ACCRUAL (SLA) AND
DESIGNATION OF QUALIFYING UNITS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026//
REF/A/MSGID/MSG/CMC MRA/R281600ZJUL26//
REF/B/MSGID/GENADMIN/SECNAV/R141700ZSEP26//
REF/C/MSGID/MSG/CMC MRA/R101213ZAPR25//
REF/D/MSGID/DOC/CMC/19MAY2009//
REF/E/MSGID/DOC/OSW/7AUG2025//
REF/F/MSGID/DOC/TITLE 37/1JAN2023//
NARR/REF A IS MARADMIN 341/26, CHANGE 1 TO MARADMIN 188/25:
ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO SPECIAL LEAVE ACCRUAL.
REF B IS ALNAV 056/26, SPECIAL LEAVE ACCRUAL. REF C IS MARADMIN
188/25, ADVANCE NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO SPECIAL LEAVE
ACCRUAL. REF D IS MCO 1050.3J, REGULATIONS FOR LEAVE, LIBERTY AND
ADMINISTRATIVE ABSENCE. REF E IS DOWI 1327.06 INCORPORATING
CHANGE ONE OF 30 JUNE 2026, MILITARY LEAVE, LIBERTY, AND
ADMINSTRATIVE ABSENCE. REF F IS UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 37,
SECTION 501//
POC/MANPOWER MILITARY POLICY (MPO) BRANCH/EMAIL:
[email protected]/TEL: (703) 784-9632//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/ Purpose. 1. This MARADMIN implements the Secretary
of the Navy (SECNAV) Special Leave Accrual (SLA) designations and
delegation of authority published in reference (b) and provides
procedural guidance for commanders, General Officers (GO), and
individual Marines.
2. Background
2.a. Reference (a) suspended the approval of SLA for Marines assigned
to deployable ships, mobile units, or other operational duties
pending formal designation by SECNAV pursuant to
references (e) and (f).
2.b. Reference (b) established formal SECNAV designations for Fiscal
Year 2026 (FY26) and delegated authority to the Commandant of the
Marine Corps (CMC) to define and designate deployable ships and
mobile units for the purpose of SLA. This authority was further
delegated to Director, Manpower Plans and Policy Division (Dir, MP),
Manpower and Reserve Affairs (M&RA), and remains in effect
until further notice.
3. Definitions
3.a. Deployable Ships and Mobile Units. Pursuant to the delegated
authority in reference (b) and for the purposes of SLA administration
within the Marine Corps, a "deployable ship or mobile unit" is
defined as any commissioned naval vessel, established operational
Fleet Marine Force (FMF) unit, or task-organized operational
Formation whose mission requires it to deploy, maneuver, or
operate away from its permanent duty station (PDS) or homeport for
sustained expeditionary, combat, or contingency operations.
3.b. Task-Organized and Provisional Formations. This definition
explicitly encompasses task-organized, composited, or provisional
operational elements that assemble for specific operational
commitments and subsequently disband, demobilize, or reconstitute
upon mission completion. Eligible constructs include,
but are not limited to:
3.b.1. Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs), Amphibious Ready Group
(ARG) Marine elements, and associated Maritime Expeditionary Forces.
3.b.2. Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (SPMAGTFs),
Crisis Response Forces, and Joint Task Force (JTF) enablers.
3.b.3. Provisional battalions, squadrons, task forces, or composite
detachments formed pursuant to an approved execute order or
deployment order.
3.c. Personnel Coverage and Attachment Criteria. Marines are
considered assigned to a qualifying mobile unit if they were joined
permanently to the unit or temporarily attached via Temporary
Additional Duty under formal deployment orders during the
designated operational window. SLA eligibility applies to the
duration of the member's verified attachment to the qualifying
organization while deployed or operating away from homeport/PDS.
4. Resumption and Policy Execution
4.a. Effective immediately upon the release of this MARADMIN, the
suspension of SLA approvals outlined in reference (a) is rescinded.
The processes and procedures defined herein supersede the processes
and procedures defined in reference (c).
4.b. In accordance with reference (b), eligibility for SLA in FY26
is authorized under the following categories:
4.b.1. Personnel deployed in support of Operation EPIC FURY
pursuant to paragraph 3.8.d of reference (e).
4.b.2. Personnel assigned to designated ships and mobile units that
deployed or operated away from homeport or PDS for more than 60
consecutive days in support of operations in defense of national
security in FY26. Paragraph 5 of this MARADMIN lists the
designated ships and mobile units that qualify under this provision.
4.b.3. Marines serving in locations formally designated for Hostile
Fire Pay (HFP) or Imminent Danger Pay (IDP) for at least 120
Consecutive days in accordance with reference (a) and reference (e).
4.c. In accordance with reference (e), SECNAV or those delegated must
designate "other qualifying duty" that qualifies personnel for SLA.
4.c.1. SECNAV has not designated any "other qualifying duty."
4.c.2. Those with approving authority listed in paragraph 6 of this
MARADMIN will not approve SLA under the "other qualifying duty"
category.
4.c.3. Commands receiving requests for SLA or exceptions to policy
to SLA under the "other qualifying duty" category will be returned
without action prior to submission to Headquarters Marine Corps
(HQMC).
4.c.4. If "other qualifying duty" is defined and designated by
SECNAV, HQMC will release guidance via MARADMIN.
4.d. All items within paragraph 4, with the exception of paragraph
4.b.1, remain in effect for future fiscal years until otherwise
modified or canceled.
5. Designated Units List and Location
5.a. Under the delegated authority in reference (b), and in
coordination with the Fleet Marine Force and Plans, Policies &
Operations, Dir, MP has compiled the formal list of designated
deployable ships and mobile units eligible for FY26 SLA.
5.b. The official FY26 SLA Designated Units List is published
and maintained on the Manpower Military Policy (MPO) section
of the M&RA website: https://www.manpower.marines.mil/Divisions/
Plans-and-Policies/Manpower-Plans-and-Policy/Manpower-Military
-Policy-MPO/
5.c. This list may be updated and republished as necessary.
6. Approval Authority and Criteria
6.a. The approval authority for SLA requests under this message is
strictly retained by the first Marine GO in the requestor's
administrative chain of command. This authority may not be
further delegated, nor is by direction authorized for SLA approvals.
6.b. GOs may only approve SLA requests for individual Marines
belonging to designated deployable ships and mobile units who were
prevented from taking accrued leave due to national security
operations, natural disaster, or catastrophe. SLA is an exceptional
authority and must not be used to salvage leave lost due to a
Marine's failure to properly manage their accrued leave balances.
6.c. Maximum Accrual Limits. Eligible Marines approved for SLA may
carry over a maximum of 30 days beyond the statutory 60-day leave
limit (for a maximum aggregate balance of up to 90 days). Per
reference (e), any excess balance over 90 days may be eligible for
sell-back.
6.c.1. SLA expires at the conclusion of the second FY for which
the SLA is approved.
6.c.2. For example, on 1 October 2026, a Marine lost 27 days of
leave, reducing their balance to 60 days. Following the release of
this MARADMIN, the Marine submitted an SLA request that was approved.
On 30 October 2026, the Marine's SLA was adjusted to reflect the
restored days, bringing their leave balance to 87. The SLA approved
for FY26 and restored in FY27 remains available until
1 October 2028 (i.e., FY29).
7. Action and Submission Procedures
7.a. Unit commanders and administrative personnel sections will
review all pending and previously held or returned SLA packages
against the designated units list posted on the MPO website.
7.b. Qualified packages will be forwarded via the administrative
chain of command to the first Marine GO for decision.
7.c. Packages must contain:
7.c.1. An Administrative Action Form requesting SLA.
7.c.2. Verification of assignment or TAD attachment to a designated
unit during the qualifying period (i.e., web orders, deployment
manifest, or operational travel claims).
7.c.3. Written endorsement from the requestor's Commanding
Officer (CO).
7.d. After approval by the GO, the documentation must be submitted
to the requestor's unit S-1. Once received by S-1, the unit CO will
restore qualifying days in Marine Online (MOL).
7.d.1. During restoration in MOL, the CO shall add a comment that
states which GO approved the SLA and on what date it was approved.
7.d.2. SLA packages shall be maintained at the restoring unit S-1 per
the Marine Corps Records Management Program.
8. Coordinating Instructions
8.a. Commands requesting reconsideration or addition of deployable
ships or mobile units to the designated unit list must submit formal
justification endorsed by a GO to Dir, MP via
https://usmc.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/dcmra_mra_mp_mpo.
8.a.1. When Dir, MP decision is made, the requesting unit will be
notified, and the FY26 Designated Unit List will be updated on the
MPO website, as appropriate.
8.b. Future FY Designated Unit Lists will be published on the MPO
website 60 days prior to the closeout of the FY, announcing units
designated for SLA and giving Marines time to route requests prior
to the start of the next FY.
8.c. In accordance with reference (d), leave is charged in a last in,
first out method. Leave carried over from previous fiscal years or
preserved under approved SLA authorities will be charged only
after current FY leave has been fully exhausted.
8.d. Marines can check their SLA balance on their Leave and
Earnings Statement (LES) and in Marine Online under the
Leave/Liberty Tab, Leave Overview Section, SLA History portion.
8.e. Marines are notified of forecasted lost leave via their LES.
9. Direct all inquiries concerning SLA submission processes
to local unit administration sections or PACs. Policy questions
may be directed to MPO.
10. This MARADMIN is applicable to the Total Force.
11. This MARADMIN remains in effect until modified or cancelled.
12. MARADMIN release authorized by Senior Executive Service
Michael R. Melillo, Acting Director, Manpower Plans and Policy
Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs.//