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Released: April 25, 2003

Message provides guidance for time off after deployment

Compiled by staff reports
1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) -- Air Combat Command's airmen returning from deployments of 12 weeks or longer will receive four days of compensatory time off, plus 10 days for recovery and reconstitution, according to the command's personnel directorate.

The guidance is contained in a message from the ACC commander dated July 1999.

There have been no changes to this policy, said Capt. Karen Kirkpatrick, chief of field support for the ACC Personnel Directorate Mission Support Branch.

Similarly, those deployed less than 12 weeks, but at least six weeks or longer, are entitled to the four days and "are afforded the opportunity" for an additional three days recovery and reconstitution, according to the same message.

Those left at home station will also receive time off, according to the message, but it's left to the commander's discretion to determine which individuals and units operated in a "deployed fashion" here at home and how much time off to give.

The four days compensatory time for the deployed members falls under the same regulations as those for a special pass.

These regulations state that the pass period starts after normal working hours on a given day and stop at the beginning of normal working hours of the fifth day, said Senior Airman Nicole Wheeler of the 1st Mission Support Squadron commander's support staff.

"People should also know that any absence that exceeds the pass period is chargeable leave if they fail to return to the local area," she said.

The recovery and reconstitution time, unlike the compensatory, can only be taken in the local area. Travel outside of this area requires the member to take leave.

The message states, "It is our intent to provide all temporary duty-weary ACC and ACC-gained members an opportunity to recover and reconstitute after lengthy deployment to contingency areas where adverse conditions and extended duty hours are the norm.

"We do not continuously fly very valuable aircraft without taking the time for scheduled maintenance or to inspect and replace parts and components as necessary. Obviously, we should also not over-extend the folks who make the mission work."