DA Form 31 Request and Authority for Leave: What you need to know in 2026

DA Form 31, officially titled Request and Authority for Leave, was the Army’s paper leave form. In 2026, Soldiers normally submit an absence request through IPPS-A. Complete a DA Form 31 PDF only when a unit, S-1 office, or other authorized official specifically directs you to use the legacy form.

TL;DR

• DA Form 31 was the official Army leave form used to request and authorize absence from duty.
• In 2026, the IPPS-A is the standard Army-wide leave process, not DA Form 31.
• The DA Form 31 PDF is still used in some Reserve, National Guard, and legacy administrative contexts.
• Active duty soldiers earn 30 days of leave per year, with a standard carryover cap of 60 days.
• pdfFiller can help you fill out, edit, store, and share DA Form 31 PDFs when a paper or digital copy is required. However, it cannot replace IPPS-A or command approval.

If you’ve searched for “DA Form 31” recently, you’ve probably run into outdated instructions, broken PDF links, or conflicting information about whether the form is still in use. That’s understandable—Army leave policy has shifted significantly with the rollout of the Integrated Personnel and Pay System – Army (IPPS-A), and not every unit or component is at the same stage of the transition.

This guide explains the old DA 31, what replaced DA Form 31, the current request process, and the limited situations in which the PDF may remain relevant.

Whether you’re an active duty soldier requesting leave, a supervisor processing absences, a unit administrator managing Army personnel records, or a family member navigating military leave terminology, this post will help you find what you need to know.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice.

What is DA Form 31?

DA Form 31, officially titled “Request and Authority for Leave,” is the Department of the Army document used to request and record a soldier’s absence from duty. It captures key details such as the soldier’s name, rank, Social Security number (last 4 digits), unit, leave dates, type of leave, leave address, and the approving authority’s signature.

What is the purpose of DA Form 31?

The form serves two key purposes:

• Formal request: It acts as the soldier’s official request for leave.
• Approval record: Once signed by a commanding officer or designated approving authority, it becomes the official approval record.

Traditionally, the DA 31 form recorded:

• The soldier’s name, Social Security number or DoD ID, and rank
• The current duty station and organization
• The type of leave requested (ordinary, emergency, convalescent, and others)
• The requested leave dates and total days requested
• The soldier’s leave address and contact information
• Signatures from the soldier, the supervisor, and the approving authority
• Departure and return dates and times, plus any extension requests

A completed form is retained in the soldier’s leave record and can be used to verify leave dates or resolve pay discrepancies.

DA Form 31 has been part of Army personnel administration for decades. While many of its functions have moved into digital systems, the underlying document remains an official Army form published by the Department of the Army.

Is DA Form 31 still used by the Army?

Yes, but its role has narrowed. For most active duty soldiers, DA Form 31 has been replaced in practice by the digital absence request workflow in IPPS-A. Since 2022, the Army has been migrating personnel and pay functions to IPPS-A, and the absence request module inside that system was built specifically to replace the paper DA Form 31. Army guidance describes the digital Absence Request as functionally equivalent to the old DA 31, just presented in a different format inside a self-service portal.

As of 2026, DA Form 31 has not been officially retired or rescinded. Some units—particularly in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard—still use it as a primary or supplementary leave document, depending on their IPPS-A access and unit procedures. Individual commanders also retain discretion over internal documentation requirements, so soldiers may still be asked to complete a DA Form 31 even when IPPS-A is available.

DA Form 31 vs. IPPS-A: Which one do you actually use in 2026?

The coexistence of DA Form 31 and IPPS-A has led to widespread confusion among soldiers, especially those navigating different unit policies and access levels. The table below highlights key differences between the two systems and helps clarify when each method applies.

If your unit still uses a paper DA Form 31, that’s likely a local practice, not a sign that the Army has reversed its IPPS-A rollout. For most active-duty soldiers, IPPS-A is faster and reduces the risk of a lost or unsigned form delaying approved leave.

Who needs to file a leave request, and what types of leave does it cover?

Any soldier who plans to take an authorized absence from their duty station must submit a leave request, regardless of the duration or personal reasons. This applies to active-duty soldiers, Reserve Component soldiers on applicable orders, and National Guard members on Title 10 orders.

DA Form 31 and the IPPS-A absence request process cover the following leave types:

• A leave request can cover several distinct situations, including:
• Ordinary (annual) leave for personal reasons or vacation time
• Emergency leave for family emergencies or urgent personal matters
• Convalescent leave tied to medical recovery
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS) leave during a move to a new duty station
• Terminal or transition leave before separation or retirement
• Extended pass requests for shorter periods away from duty.

Each leave and pass category has its own documentation requirements, and some (like emergency leave) often move more quickly through the approval process due to their urgency.

The specific type of leave must be clearly indicated on the request. Selecting the wrong category can affect a soldier’s leave balance or pay.

How much leave do you get, and what’s the current carryover rule?

Every soldier on active duty earns leave at a rate of 2.5 days per month, which adds up to 30 days per fiscal year. This accrual rate comes from the federal leave carryover law rather than Army policy, so it applies consistently across ranks and components. Leave accrues automatically and shows up on each soldier’s Leave and Earnings Statement.

The Army’s fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30. The standard rule allows soldiers to carry over up to 60 days of accrued leave into the new fiscal year. Anything above that cap is normally lost—this is the “use it or lose it” rule that catches soldiers who stack leave without taking time off. Soldiers who qualify for Special Leave Accrual (SLA), typically due to extended deployment or operational requirements, can carry over up to 90 days instead. Check for the latest updates on the Defense Finance and Accounting Service portal before submitting any requests.

How do you submit an absence request in IPPS-A?

IPPS-A is the Army’s integrated personnel and pay system for all three components.

Here is the general process for submitting a leave request through IPPS-A as of 2026 ( you can check more details in IPPS-A’s official Self-service user guide):

1. Log in to IPPS-A using your Common Access Card (CAC) or assigned credentials.
2. Navigate to the “My Team” or “Self Service” module and select “Absence Request.”
3. Select the leave type from the dropdown menu (annual, emergency, advance, etc.).
4. Enter leave dates (start date, end date, and expected return date).
5. Provide your leave address, where you can be reached during your absence.
6. Attach supporting documents if required.
7. Submit the request, which routes automatically to your approving authority.
8. Monitor Status—track whether the request is pending, approved, or returned for correction.

Once the approving authority signs off in IPPS-A, leave is automatically recorded in your personnel and pay record, reducing manual work for S-1 personnel and speeding up the process.

What types of Army absences can you request?

Beyond the standard annual and emergency leave categories, soldiers may be authorized the following absence types depending on their situation:

• Pass—a short authorized absence, generally 72–96 hours, that may require command authorization
• Permissive TDY (PTDY)—authorized for activities like house hunting before a permanent change of station (PCS); not chargeable as leave
• Graduation/special passes—granted at the commander’s discretion for specific achievements or events
• Administrative absence—covers activities such as job fairs or transition assistance programs during separation processing
• Nonchargeable leave—includes convalescent leave and certain environmental leave categories that don’t reduce a soldier’s leave balance

Each absence type has specific eligibility criteria and documentation requirements. When in doubt, confirm with your unit’s S-1 before submitting a request.

What information should you prepare before requesting leave?

Having the right information ready before you begin—whether you’re filling out a DA Form 31 or submitting through IPPS-A—will help avoid delays and ensure approval goes smoothly. Gather the following:

• Full legal name, rank, and unit designation
• Social Security number (last four digits for DA Form 31)
• Exact leave dates (start, end, and return to duty date)
• Leave address and contact number
• Leave type (annual, emergency, convalescent, etc.)
• Current leave balance
• Name and contact information for your commanding officer or supervisor
• Supporting documents, if applicable (medical records for convalescent leave, documentation for emergency leave)
• Any relevant control numbers from prior leave requests if amending a form

For emergency leave, be prepared to move quickly. Units typically process it faster than standard leave, but having documentation ready speeds up approval considerably.

When might you still need a DA Form 31 PDF?

Despite IPPS-A handling most active duty leave requests, there are real-world scenarios where a DA Form 31 PDF is still the right tool:

• Reserve and National Guard soldiers whose units have not fully transitioned to IPPS-A
• Soldiers on certain orders where IPPS-A access is limited or unavailable (e.g., early mobilization phases or deployment situations)
• Emergency leave requests that require a paper trail alongside the digital submission, per unit SOP
• Historical record requests—former soldiers or their families may need a completed DA Form 31 as proof of an approved leave period for benefits, legal, or administrative purposes
• Units with IPPS-A system outages—commanding officers may revert to paper forms during technical downtime
• Administrative corrections—amending a previously submitted leave record may require a paper form, depending on the system’s current capabilities

In all of these cases, having access to a fillable DA Form 31 PDF that you can complete accurately and share with the approving authority is practical and important.

How do you fill out DA Form 31 step by step if your unit requires it?

If your unit still asks for a completed DA Form 31, the form itself hasn’t changed much in structure, even as the underlying process has shifted toward IPPS-A. The form is divided into sections covering the soldier’s identification, leave details, and authorization.

1. Leave the control number blank. Your S-1 office or personnel system assigns this after approval.
2. Enter personal information. Name, Social Security number or DoD ID, and current rank.
3. Add the date and duty station. Include your current unit and organization.
4. Select the leave type. Check the box matching your situation (ordinary, emergency, convalescent, and so on).
5. Enter your leave address. This should be the address where you can be reached during leave.
6. Specify your requested dates. Include the total number of days and your accrued leave balance for reference.
7. Sign and route for approval. The soldier signs first, followed by the supervisor’s recommendation and the approving authority’s final signature.
8. Complete departure and return sections. Record actual departure and return dates and times once leave begins and ends.

DA Form 31 displayed in pdfFiller’s online editor, where users can complete, review, and prepare the Army leave form digitally.

Reviewing every field for accuracy before submission is the single best way to prevent a rejected or delayed request.

What mistakes can delay an Army leave request?

Even straightforward leave requests get held up by simple errors. The most common mistakes include:

• Incorrect leave dates—mismatched start and end dates, or failure to account for travel time
• Missing leave address—many requests are returned because the soldier didn’t provide a complete address and contact number
• Wrong leave type selected—confusing annual leave with advance leave, or failing to mark emergency leave correctly, can trigger a pay error
• Missing supporting documents—emergency leave without documentation delays approval and can affect pay
• Unsigned form—a DA Form 31 without the soldier’s or approving authority’s signature is not valid
• Blank remarks section—when context is clearly needed, leaving this empty causes delays
• Submitting through the wrong channel—sending a DA Form 31 to a unit that expects IPPS-A submissions, or vice versa, creates unnecessary back-and-forth
• Arithmetic errors in leave day calculations—especially common when leave spans a month boundary or includes travel days

To avoid critical errors, always check the Human Resources Command leave guidelines before submitting your request. Reviewing your form carefully and confirming your leave balance first also eliminates most of the issues.

How can pdfFiller help with DA Form 31 and supporting PDFs?

When your unit requires a DA Form 31 in PDF format, filling it out cleanly and accurately matters. Handwritten forms are harder to read, more error-prone, and can get lost in physical routing chains.

pdfFiller is a cloud-based PDF editor with a library of more than 30 million forms—including government and military forms like DA Form 31. Trusted by more than 64 million users worldwide, the platform lets you prepare, save, share, and store your DA Form 31 fillable PDF online.

Here is what pdfFiller offers for soldiers, supervisors, and administrators handling DA Form 31 and related Army documents:

• Fill out DA Form 31 online—type into any field directly, no handwriting or PDF software installation required
• Edit and correct previously completed forms without starting over
• Unlimited cloud storage—keep every completed form, amendment, and supporting document in one secure location, accessible from any device
• Password protection and encrypted folders—protect sensitive information, including names, social security numbers, and leave addresses
• Export and share—send the completed form by email, generate a shareable link, download it to your device, or print a PDF form right from the editor

pdfFiller guarantees strong security measures, meeting GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2 Type II, and PCI DSS compliance standards, so your personal data and military service records stay protected.

Final thoughts

DA Form 31 has been part of Army personnel administration for a long time. IPPS-A is replacing much of the manual process, but the form itself hasn’t gone away, and understanding when and how to use it remains valuable for soldiers across all components.

The process is straightforward when you know what to expect: confirm your leave balance, gather your information, select the right leave type, and submit through the correct channel for your unit. For situations where a DA Form 31 PDF is required, completing it accurately the first time prevents delays that could affect your leave dates, your pay, or both.

If your unit requires a fillable DA Form 31 or you need to prepare supporting documents for an upcoming absence request, pdfFiller makes the process faster and more organized. Try pdfFiller today to simplify your paperwork and keep your leave process on track.

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Glossary

• DA (Department of the Army): The Army’s administrative authority responsible for issuing official forms and regulations, including DA Form 31.
• AR (Army Regulation): A formal Army policy document; AR 600-8-10 specifically governs leaves and passes.
• IPPS-A (Integrated Personnel and Pay System-Army): The Army’s digital personnel and pay platform, which now includes the Absence Request feature replacing the legacy DA Form 31.
• S-1: The personnel officer or section responsible for human resources within an Army unit, including processing leave requests.
• PCS: Permanent Change of Station. A permanent reassignment to a different duty station, which may trigger specific leave or PTDY entitlements.
• PTDY: Permissive Temporary Duty. An authorized absence for specific purposes, such as house hunting before a PCS, that is not charged against a soldier’s leave balance.

Trusted sources

1. Army Publishing Directorate—DA Form 31, “Request and Authority for Leave”: armypubs.army.mil
2. Army Regulation 600-8-10, “Leaves and Passes”: armypubs.army.mil
3. IPPS-A Official Portal—U.S. Army Human Resources Command: ipps-a.army.mil
4. Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS)—Leave Pay and Benefits: dfas.mil
5. U.S. Army Human Resources Command—Leave and Pass Policy: hrc.army.mil
6. National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)—Leave Carryover Provisions: congress.gov