AF Form 988: Air Force Leave Request/Authorization

3. DoD ID 4. Name (Last, First, Middle Initial) 5. Grade 6. Current LV Balance 6a. DOS.

Type of Transaction is (FMF / FSS / CSS Use Only).

Block 6, current Leave Balance: verify that the member has enough leave balance to cover the period of leave requested, which may be done by checking the member's LES or the orderly room's leave balance listing.

Complete 6a when member requests leave with a planned return date within 30 days of DOS.

Block 7 will be completed, signed, and stamped by the appropriate medical authority if convalescent leave is recommended.

Type of Leave: Ordinary (A), Convalescent (F), Terminal (P), Emergency Leave of Absence (ELA), Emergency (D), Appellate Review (R), Special (H), Graduation (J), Other (Specify), Permissive TDY (T), Reenlistment (E), R & R Leave (A).

For PTDY, state the paragraph number of the applicable reason for PTDY as stated in DAFI 36-3003 and in Remarks area give abbreviated description of purpose of PTDY.

9. No. Days Requested 10. Leave Auth No. 11. First Day/Time of LV Status 12. First Day of Chargeable LV 13. Last Day of Chargeable LV.

Block 10, Leave Authorization Number: Supervisor or designee obtains a leave authorization number immediately before signing a leave approval and forwarding Part I to FMF. Do not get leave number earlier than 30 days before effective date.

Block 11, First Day/Time of Leave Status, is the earliest time a member can depart or sign up for space available transportation. If planned departure is on a non-duty day, enter the non-duty date and 0001 hours. If planned departure is on a duty day without performing the majority (over 50%) of scheduled duty, enter the date and time when over 50% of the scheduled duty will be completed.

Leave status is not necessarily chargeable leave. The date cannot be more than 1 day before the date in block 12.

Leave Area: CONUS, OS or OS to CONUS.

Leave Address: Street, City, State, Zip Code, and Phone No. (if different from phone number provided in block 15).

Enter the Emergency Phone No., the Duty Phone No., the Unit Office Symbol / Duty Section and the Duty Location.

The leave requested by you will be charged against your leave account unless otherwise cancelled or corrected through Part III of this form.

If you cannot earn enough leave before separation to cover this request, you consent to withholding from current pay, final pay, or any other pay due you to satisfy this indebtedness.

You further consent to such withholding at a rate sufficient to satisfy this indebtedness no later than your requested or projected separation date, and understand that this could result in the withholding of 100% of any current pay, final pay, or any other money due you.

Mark LEAVE IS APPROVED or DISAPPROVED and enter the DATE.

Block 22: for PTDY, use approval level required by DAFI 36-3003.

Enter the Approver's Name and Grade (Print or Type), the Duty Phone No. and the Approver's Signature.

Blocks 26-33: commanders complete only to authorize advance or excess leave. Blocks are self-explanatory except for blocks 27, 28, and 33.

Advance Leave (Block 27): if the requested leave exceeds the current balance but does not exceed the balance to ETS, the leave is advance leave. Complete Blocks 26-27 and forward the form (all parts) to the unit commander for approval. If a member requesting leave has a cumulative advance balance of 30 days, comply with DAFI 36-3003.

Excess Leave (Block 28): if the requested leave exceeds the balance to ETS, the leave is excess leave. Complete Blocks 26 and 28 and forward the form (all parts) to the unit commander for approval.

Authority for Advance Leave Over 30 Days (Block 33): record message date/time group if approval was received by message.

If you take more leave than you will accumulate before date of separation (DOS), the FMF immediately collects all pay and allowances you receive during the period of excess leave.

Part II is given to member. Hold Part III for completion after the member's return from leave.

If member requests cancellation before any leave is taken, complete Section III of Part III and forward to your unit commander.

Upon member's return from leave or cancellation, complete (separately) Section III of Part III. Determine how the member's actual leave dates compared to the chargeable leave reported to the FMF on Part I. Complete Section III to indicate either “no change”, “should be corrected”, or “should be cancelled”.

If the member departs before or after the first day of leave status indicated in Section I of Part I, cancel the original leave request and prepare a new request using a new leave authorization number.

Complete Section III of Part III of the original leave request and forward to the unit. Forward Part I of the new leave request to the FMF. Process Part III of the new leave request as normal upon member's return.

Its principal purposes are to authorize military leave, document the start and stop of such leave; record address and telephone number where you may be contacted in case of emergency during leave; and certify leave days chargeable to the member.

Immediately after getting a leave authorization number and signing the form, forward to the FMF using normal distribution. If the leave is terminal/separation or involves excess or advance leave, contact the FMF office for delivery instructions.

Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute federal criminal violations, with maximum penalties of $10,000 fine or 5 years imprisonment, or both, under 18 U.S.C. 1001 (checked October 22, 2026).