This is the sailor term for vacation. Liberty is short term, normally not to exceed 72 hours. Leave is used for any extended period of time longer than 72 hours.
Each sailor is given 2 ½ days per month of leave, or 30 days per year. There are many rules for keeping your extra leave, but to be honest I cannot remember them all. Many sailors do not take much leave, they hold it for special times.

When a sailor wishes to take leave they fill out a request with all sorts of information and after it is approved the sailor is allowed to take leave. While on leave many sailors will let their hair grow and even not shave. However, they must do clean up before they return to their units.

There are a few types of leave that are not deducted from the sailors leave balance. Convalescence leave is one type. This is given to sailors injured while on active duty. Most of the time this is only for 30 days, but in some cases you can get longer.

Some sailors will save their leave and use it to get out of the Navy early. This is called terminal leave. The sailor is actually on leave until they have used up their balance and then they are officially discharged. The benefit of this is they get paid and can look for a job or just enjoy the time off.

There is also another type of leave, but it is very UA, basket leave. This happens when a sailor goes on leave and after he reports back in off leave his leave papers are thrown away and not entered into his record. If this is discovered, both sailors will be subject to the UCMJ and head off for NJP at captain’s Mast. If you have been following your WOD you would know I just said they were up a creek without a paddle.

I picked this word for a reason. I will be on leave until Nov 17, so the WOD will be suspended until then. See, there is a method to my madness.