Annual Leave

What’s it for?

Everyone needs a break from work at times. With your Annual Leave Allowance, you can take time off from Service duties to recharge your batteries and return to work refreshed.

What do I get?

The Annual Leave year runs from 1 April to 31 March. Regular and Full-Time Reserve Service people are eligible for 38 days’ Annual Leave a year, including public holidays.

Reservists on Additional Duties Commitments receive Annual Leave and public holidays leave proportionate to the number of days they attend per year, at a rate of 12.07% of each day (or part-day) worked per month, up to a maximum of 28 days accrued leave per year.

Most Part Time Volunteer Reservists undertaking obligatory training or paid voluntary training and other duties will be entitled to pay in lieu of leave based on the number of days they attend per year, at a rate of 12.07% of each day (or part-day) worked per month, up to a maximum of 28 days accrued leave per year.

In exceptional circumstances, and subject to the approval of the Commanding Officer, Regular and Full Time Reservists may carry forward up to 15 days of untaken annual leave into the next leave year.

Individual Leave Allowance

Individual Leave Allowance (ILA) consists of four leave types:

• Annual Leave Allowance

• Authorised Absence

• Post Operational Leave

• Seagoers’ Leave. 

An approved application for ILA will reduce the individual balances in the following order of priority:

• Authorised Absence 

• Post Operational Leave

• Seagoer’s Leave 

• Annual Leave Allowance

How do I request Annual Leave?

Providing you have the agreement of your Chain of Command, you can book your annual leave on:

• My Leave app (part of the My Series) accessed using a Defence Gateway account on your work or own personal device. Watch a short video showing you how to use the App.

• JPA - Follow the instructions in the ‘Request for absence (leave)’ self-service user guide, which can be found within the JPA user guides (on defnet).

• JPA Form R001 - If you don’t have access to JPA or the App, complete and send this form (which can be found at JPA forms on defnet) to your line manager.