Army · Leave & Liberty · DA Form 31, OCT 2023 edition

DA 31: Request and Authority for Leave

The OCT 2023 leave form: requestor data, type of absence, chargeable and non-chargeable days, the signature chain, departure and return, plus the emergency-leave travel parts.

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Every block on the DA Form 31

Laid out block for block like the official REQUEST AND AUTHORITY FOR LEAVE (OCT 2023 edition), with the instruction for each block. Name, rank, and unit prefill from your service profile.

Form details

1
Control Number
Assigned by the unit or S1 leave control log. Leave blank unless your unit gives you one.

Part i - requestor information

2
Name (Last, First, Middle Initial)
3
DoD ID
Your 10-digit DoD ID number, no hyphens (from the back of your CAC).
4
Rank
5
Date (YYYYMMDD)
6
Leave Address (Street, City, State, ZIP Code and Phone Number)
Where you'll be and a phone number that reaches you there.
7
Organization, Station, POC Email and Phone Number
Your unit and installation, plus an email and phone for the unit point of contact.
8
Type of Absence
Chargeable absences come off your leave balance; non-chargeable ones don't; combination is both in one period (for example PCS leave and house hunting).
Type (check the one that applies)
The e-form shows the list that matches block 8 (chargeable, non-chargeable, or combination types). Pick exactly one. Some non-chargeable absences are governed by policy that changes often; confirm eligibility with S1.
9a
From (YYYYMMDD)
9b
Total Days Requested
Every calendar day from 9a through 9c, weekends and holidays included.
9c
To (YYYYMMDD)
10a
Accrued Leave (CR BAL)
Your current leave balance: CR BAL on your latest LES.
10b
Chargeable Leave Requested: From (YYYYMMDD)
Days Requested
To (YYYYMMDD)
Advance
Days beyond your balance that you expect to earn back before ETS. Needs commander approval.
Excess
Unpaid days beyond advance leave. Rare; requires special approval under AR 600-8-10.
10c
Non-chargeable Absence Requested: From (YYYYMMDD)
Days Requested
To (YYYYMMDD)

Requestor / supervisor / approving authority signatures

11
Signature of Requestor (Supervisor can sign for requestor when requestor is not available to sign.)
Date
12
Supervisor Name
Title
Rank/Grade
Recommendation
Signature
Date
13
Approving Authority Name
Usually the company commander (or the authority set by your command's leave policy). Can't be the same person as the requestor.
Title
Rank/Grade
Action
Signature
Date

14. departure - authority signature

14a
Date
Completed when you actually sign out, by the departure authority (often the staff duty NCO or first sergeant). Must be on or after the FROM date in 10b.
14b
Time
14c
Name Departure Authority
14d
Title
14e
Signature
14f
Date

15. extension - approval authority signature

15a
Number Days
Only if an extension is approved while you're on leave. Call your chain of command before your leave ends; don't assume approval.
15b
Date Approved
15c
Name Approval Authority
15d
Title
15e
Signature
15f
Date

16. return - authority signature

16a
Date
Completed when you sign back in. Must be on or after the departure date in 14a.
16b
Time
16c
Name Return Authority
16d
Title
16e
Signature
16f
Date
17
Remarks
Unit and staff duty phone numbers, travel mode, the approved leave area, and anything the approver needs to know. For non-chargeable absences the e-form adds the printed statement that the absence isn't official business and isn't reimbursed.
PERSONNEL/FINANCE ONLY: Chargeable leave is from date (YYYYMMDD)
Filled in by S1 or finance from the actual departure and return. Leave blank.
to date (YYYYMMDD)

Part ii - emergency leave transportation and travel

20
Departed Unit
Parts II–IV print only when Emergency Leave is selected and authorize government-funded travel from an overseas duty station. Block 18 (the travel authorization) and block 19 (return transportation contacts) are printed text; blocks 20–23 record the travel dates.
21
Arrived APOD
22
Arrived APOE (return only)
23
Arrived Home Unit

Part iii - dependent travel authorization

24
Transportation Authorized for Dependents Listed in Block Number 25
Trip
25
Dependent Information

Part iv - authentication for travel authorization

26
Designation and Location of Headquarters
Completed by the orders-issuing office (S1 or the military personnel division).
27
Accounting Citation
28
Date Issued
29
Travel Order No.
30
Name Order Auth. Official
a. Title
b. Signature
c. Date

Draft / worksheet aid. Prepare it here, then transcribe into IPPS-A (leave and pass requests are submitted and approved in IPPS-A self-service; the DA 31 is the manual and emergency-leave backup). This is not an official submission. Check it against the current official DA Form 31 before use.

How to fill out the DA Form 31

The Army's request for leave or a non-chargeable absence (pass, PTDY-type absences, convalescent, parental, and others) and the record of when the Soldier actually departed and returned. When: Most leave now goes through IPPS-A. Use the DA 31 when IPPS-A is unavailable, when your unit still requires a paper copy, and for emergency leave, where Parts II–IV authorize government-funded OCONUS travel. Submit ordinary leave by your unit's suspense (often 30 days out for block leave or OCONUS travel).

Step by step

Fill Part I: name, DoD ID, rank, today's date, where you'll be (address and phone), and your unit with a POC email and phone.
In block 8, mark Chargeable, Non-chargeable, or Combination, then the specific type (for example Annual (Ordinary) Leave or PASS, Special 3-Day).
Enter the overall dates and total days in block 9, then split them in block 10: accrued balance (CR BAL from your LES), chargeable days, any advance or excess, and non-chargeable days.
Sign block 11. Your supervisor recommends in block 12 and the approving authority acts in block 13.
On the day you leave and the day you return, sign out and in with the departure and return authority (blocks 14 and 16). An extension goes in block 15.
For emergency leave overseas, S1 completes Parts II–IV so you can travel space-required to the port.

What a strong one looks like

Count every calendar day you're in a leave status, including weekends and holidays inside the period.
Put a phone number you'll actually answer in block 6, and the unit's staff duty number in Remarks.
Check your leave balance on myPay before you ask for more days than you have. Advance leave needs commander approval and is limited by AR 600-8-10.

Common mistakes

Leaving before the approving authority signs block 13 is AWOL, even with a supervisor's OK.
Forgetting to sign in on return (block 16), so leave keeps charging.
The same person signing as requestor and approving authority. The form doesn't allow it.
Traveling outside the approved leave area without the extra approvals your command requires.

References: AR 600-8-10, Leaves and Passes; DoDI 1327.06, Leave and Liberty Policy and Procedures; DoD 7000.14-R, Financial Management Regulation, Vol. 7A, ch. 35 (leave accounting) Checked against the official source: Sep 2026 Official blank form

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