Part 6: War service leave

 

TAX ALERT: PACMATE Annex 3.A, item 80.

 

Note: For more information on warlike and non-warlike deployments, see Chapter 17, Warlike and non-warlike deployments.

5.6.1    Purpose
5.6.2    Definitions
5.6.2A  Members this Part applies to
5.6.3    War service leave credit
5.6.4    Granting leave
5.6.5    War service leave and other leave
5.6.6    Debiting leave credit
5.6.7    Salary for leave
5.6.8    Payment instead of leave — during ADF service
5.6.8A  Payment instead of leave — leaving continuous full-time service
5.6.9    How to apply for war service leave

5.6.1    Purpose

 

War service leave is an additional leave entitlement for a member who is on warlike service. It allows them to adjust to living back in Australia and to recover from the demands of that service.

5.6.2    Definitions

 

This table defines terms used in this Part.

 

Terms

Definition in this Part

Operational area

a.  For overseas service on a deployment.

     See: Chapter 1 Part 3 Division 1 clause 1.3.46.

b.  For overseas service other than a deployment – the same meaning as in the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, section 6.

     See: Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986.

Warlike service

See: Chapter 1 Part 3 Division 1 clause 1.3.73

5.6.2A  Members this Part applies to

 

This Part applies to a member who performs warlike service in an operational area.

5.6.3    War service leave credit

1.

The member may accrue up to 18 days of leave credit for every year of service in the operational area, calculated using the method in subclause 3.

2.

War service leave credits are calculated and accrue each time the member leaves the operational area for at least one full day.

3.

The amount of a war service leave credit is calculated using the following table.

 

Step

Action

1.

Count the number of days the member spent in an operational area while on warlike service.

 

In this Step, count the following as full days in the operational area.

a. Any part days at the beginning or end of the period.

b. Any days where the member is absent from the operational area for only part of the day.

 

Do not count any days when the member is absent from the operational area for the full day.

2.

Divide the outcome of Step 1 by 365.

3.

Multiply the outcome of Step 2 by 18 days.

4.

Round the outcome of Step 3 to the nearest two decimal places.

5.

The outcome of Step 4 is the number of days of war service leave the member is to be credited.

Example:

A member spends from midday 1 March to midday 23 March in an operational area on a warlike deployment.

Step 1

The member spent 23 days in an operational area while on warlike service.

 

The part days on 1 March and 23 March are counted as whole days.

Step 2

23 divided by 365 = 0.06301

Step 3

0.06301 multiplied by 18 days = 1.13425 days

Step 4

1.13425 days rounded is 1.13 days

Step 5

The member may be credited with 1.13 days of war service leave.

 

 

Note: War service leave credits are calculated by the PMKeyS personnel management system.

5.6.4    Granting leave

 1.

The CDF may grant war service leave to a member for a period up to the period of the member's war service leave credit.

2.

The member may only be granted a part day of war service leave in combination with a part day of recreation leave.

See: Clause 5.6.6, Debiting leave credit

 

Persons who can make the decision under clause 5.6.4 on behalf of the CDF:

Supervisor not below WO2 (E)/APS 4 of the member in the member’s direct chain of command or supervision.

5.6.5    War service leave and other leave

1.

If a member takes leave after warlike service, they must take war service leave before recreation leave.

2.

While on warlike service in an operational area, the member does not accrue any of the following kinds of recreation leave.

 

a.

Additional recreation leave – remote locations within Australia.

See: Chapter 5 Part 2 Division 3.

 

b.

Additional recreation leave – hardship posts overseas.

See: Chapter 16 Part 3.

 

c.

Additional recreation leave – non-warlike service.

See: Chapter 17 Part 9 Division 5.

 

d.

Extra recreation leave – arduous or prolonged duty.

See: Chapter 5 Part 2 Division 4.

3.

If eligible, the member may continue to accrue additional recreation leave for sea, field or flying service.

See: Chapter 5 Part 3, Additional recreation leave.

5.6.6    Debiting leave credit

1.

At the end of a period of war service leave, a member’s war service leave credit must be reduced by the number of days of leave granted. Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays are not counted.

2.

If the member takes payment instead of leave under clause 5.6.8, their war service leave credit reduces by the number of days they took pay for instead of leave.

3.

If a member has a part-day of war service leave credit, it can be combined with a part day of recreation leave credit in order to provide the member with a whole day of leave credit to take.

Related Information: Chapter 5 Part 2, Recreation leave

5.6.7    Salary for leave

 

Salary for a period of war service leave is salary and allowances a member would be entitled to if they had taken recreation leave for the period – see Chapter 5 Part 2.

Note 1: This includes payment of deployment allowance or international campaign allowance, subject to the limits set out in Chapter 17 Part 9.

See:
Chapter 5 Part 2 for recreation leave
Chapter 17 Part 9 Division 1 for deployment allowance
Chapter 17 Part 9 Division 3 for international campaign allowance

Note 2: ADF salary and allowances for a member on war service leave that accrued during warlike service are exempt from income tax. This is if the member meets the conditions set out in tax legislation.

See: Chapter 17, Warlike and non-warlike deployments

5.6.8    Payment instead of leave — during ADF service

1.

The CDF may approve payment instead of war service leave to a member who meets both the following conditions.

 

a.

The member is not permitted to take the leave for Service reasons.

 

b.

The member applies for payment instead of leave.

2.

Payment instead of war service leave is worked out in accordance with the following table.

 

Item

For...

the member is paid...

1.

every five days of war service leave credit

for seven days of salary.

2.

every remaining whole day of war service leave credit

for one day of salary.

3.

remaining part day of war service leave credit

nothing.

 

 

Example: A member has 13.25 days of war service leave. This period includes two sets of five days, three remaining whole days, and a part day. The member is paid as follows:

For two periods of  five days of leave credit = 2 sets of 7 days, or 14 days

For the remaining 3 whole days = 3 days

For the remaining 0.25 days = nothing

Total = 17 days

The member is to be paid 17 days' salary and allowances. (See: Clause 5.6.7, Salary for leave)

3.

A part day of war service leave credit for which the member is not paid remains in a member's leave balance.

Example: In the example in subclause 2, the member has 0.25 days remaining in their leave balance.

 

Persons who can make the decision under subclause 5.6.8.1 on behalf of the CDF:

Commanding Officer or Officer Commanding, not below MAJ(E), in the member’s direct chain of command

5.6.8A  Payment instead of leave — leaving continuous full-time service

1.

A member must be paid an amount instead of their war service leave credit in the following situations.

 

a.

The member leaves the Permanent Forces.

Examples: Resignation, becoming a Reserve member on continuous full-time service

 

b.

The member is a Reserve member and ends a period of continuous full-time service.

 

Note: For entitlements when a member dies, see Chapter 11 Part 3.

2.

Payment instead of war service leave is worked out in accordance with the following table.

 

Item

For...

the member is paid...

1.

every five days of war service leave credit

for seven days of salary.

2.

every remaining whole day of war service leave credit

for one day of salary.

3.

remaining part day of war service leave credit

salary for the part of the day.

 

 

Example: A member has 13.25 days of war service leave. This period includes two sets of five days, plus a remaining credit of 3.25 days. The member is paid as follows:

For two periods of  five days of leave credit = 2 sets of 7 days, or 14 days

For the remaining three whole days of credit = 3 days

For the remaining 0.25 days = 0.25 days

Total = 17.25 days

The member is to be paid 17.25 days' salary and allowances. (See: Clause 5.6.7, Salary for leave)

5.6.9    How to apply for war service leave

1.

A member must apply for war service leave using either of the following processes.

 

a.

PMKeyS Self Service.

 

b.

Form AD097 ADF leave application, located on the Defence Publishing Service Web Forms system.

2.

One leave application may be used for multiple types of leave. However, if different approving authorities are required to sign for the different types of leave, separate leave forms must be used for each type of leave.

Examples: Recreation leave, long service leave, leave without pay.

 

PACMAN                                                                  AL13 (November 2011)                                                        Chapter 5 – Part 6 – 1