ALCOAST 634/08
COMDTNOTE 12630
SUBJ: REVISED GUIDANCE - EXCUSED ABSENCE FOR ACTIVATED MILITARY
MEMBERS RETURNING TO CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT
A.  COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 091250Z AUG 08/ALCOAST 433/08
B.  OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT MEMO UPDATE (PM 2008-21), DATED
16 DECEMBER 2008
1.  REFERENCE A DIRECTS AGENCIES TO GRANT FEDERAL CIVILIAN
EMPLOYEES FIVE DAYS OF EXCUSED ABSENCE EACH TIME THEY RETURN FROM
ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE IN THE CONTINUING GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM
(GWOT).  REF B PROVIDES CLARIFICATION GUIDANCE FROM THE OFFICE OF
PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (OPM) REGARDING THE MINIMUM SERVICE
REQUIREMENT TO GRANT FIVE DAYS OF EXCUSED ABSENCE TO EMPLOYEES
RETURNING FROM ACTIVE DUTY.
2.  THE REVISED GUIDANCE STIPULATES THAT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE FIVE
DAYS OF EXCUSED ABSENCE, MEMBERS MUST SPEND AT LEAST 42 CONSECUTIVE
DAYS ON ACTIVE DUTY IN SUPPORT OF THE GWOT.  THIS IS PARALLEL TO
THE REQUIREMENT TO QUALIFY FOR A POST DIFFERENTIAL WHEN A CIVILIAN
EMPLOYEE WORKS IN A HARDSHIP POST LOCATION ON EXTENDED DETAIL, OR
IN A TEMPORARY DUTY TRAVEL STATUS IN AN OVERSEAS LOCATION WITH AN
APPROVED POST DIFFERENTIAL.  THIS MINIMUM STANDARD REFLECTS THE
RATIONALE FOR THE EXCUSED ABSENCE, WHICH IS TO FACILITATE AN
EMPLOYEES RETURN TO CIVILIAN SERVICE AND FAMILY LIFE AFTER A
SIGNIFICANT ABSENCE RESULTING FROM ACTIVATION IN SUPPORT OF THE
GWOT.  IT WAS NEVER ENVISIONED THAT EMPLOYEES WOULD HAVE SEPARATE,
MULTIPLE ACTIVATIONS FOR VERY SHORT PERIODS OF TIME AND THAT SUCH
EMPLOYEES WOULD RECEIVE FIVE DAYS OF EXCUSED ABSENCE FOR EACH
ACTIVATION.
3.  EMPLOYEES ARE ENTITLED TO FIVE DAYS OF EXCUSED ABSENCE ONLY
ONCE IN A 12-MONTH PERIOD.  A NEW 12-MONTH PERIOD BEGINS AFTER THE
FIRST USE OF EXCUSED ABSENCE.  EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE ALREADY RETURNED
TO WORK AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED FIVE DAYS OF EXCUSED ABSENCE FOR A
SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT DEPLOYMENT MAY TAKE THE FIVE DAYS AT A TIME
MUTUALLY AGREEABLE TO THE EMPLOYEE AND HIS OR HER SUPERVISOR.  A
REVISED Q AND A CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING LINK:
HTTP://WWW.OPM.GOV/OCA/COMPMEMO/2008/2008-21-QA.ASP.
4.  TIMEKEEPERS AND SUPERVISORS SHOULD SELECT LEAVE AND TRANSACTION
CODE 66 IN WEBTA TO RECORD USE OF THIS EXCUSED ABSENCE AUTHORITY.
5.  IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS REGARDING USE OF THIS
AUTHORITY, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR SERVICING COMMAND STAFF ADVISOR
(CSA) OR HUMAN RESOURCE SPECIALISTS FOR APPROPRIATED FUND
CIVILIANS.
QUESTIONS ON NON-APPROPRIATED FUND EMPLOYEES MAY BE DIRECTED TO MS.
CYNTHIA WHITE, AT (757) 420-2480 OR BY E-MAILING HER AT CWHITE(AT)
CG-EXCHANGE.COM.
6.  RDML DANIEL A. NEPTUN, DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, SENDS.
7.  INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.