Post Deployment Mobilization Respite Absence program offers heavily deployed Airmen more down time

Published Feb. 20, 2008
By Senior Airman Megan P. Lyon
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- A new program will allow eligible active-duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen more time off if they have deployed 12 or more months since Jan. 19, 2004.

Post-Deployment Mobilization Respite Absence is a Secretary of Defense mandated program recognizing service members who are required to deploy frequently beyond established rotation cycles. Airmen must have deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan or as part of a certain theater unit in Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates or Kyrgyzstan with a departure date from the area of responsibility on or after Jan. 19, 2007, to be eligible for the program. No credit is authorized for deployed service earlier than Jan. 19, 2004.

Airmen who meet the requirements accumulate PDMRA as follows:
· One day earned per month for total deployment time between 12 through 17 months.
· Two days earned per month for total deployment time between 18 through 24 months.
· Four days earned per month for total deployment time more then 24 months.

For example, an Airman who deployed 22 months would earn 16 absence days at one day earned for months 12-17 and two days earned for months 18-22.

The following requirements must also be met:
· Each deployment must be on contingency, exercise and deployment orders or temporary duty station, permanent change of station or flight orders. The orders must state 'in support of Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom,' or similar terms.
· This can include, but is not exclusive to 365-day extended deployments.
· Creditable time begins on the day the member arrives in the AOR and continues through the member's departure date from the AOR.
· Aircrew on orders on missions into, out of, within or over the area of eligibility in support of military operations will count each day of operation as one day of eligibility.
· Creditable time continues to accrue during rest and relaxation, leave or TDY outside the deployed site of 30 days or less.

Airmen may use the absence time to depart the local area and combine it with leave. However, it cannot be combined with or taken in conjunction with passes or post-deployment stand-down time. Additionally, absence time must be used within 12 months of return from deployment or before a permanent change of station. If an Airman fails to use the PDMRA during this stipulated time period, it will be forfeited.

Airmen should request PDMRA on their Air Force Form 988, "Leave Request and Authorization" with Block 8 marked as permissive TDY with the reason annotated as PDMRA.

In the event that a court-martial or other administrative action has been initiated against a deployed Airman, their PDMRA accrual-time is suspended, beginning with the day the adverse administrative action is initiated, pending final resolution of the matter. Commanders must document suspension date of creditable time pending a final resolution of the charges. If the Airman is cleared of the charges, the Airman's PDMRA will be reinstated and recomputed based on established guidance.

Separate guidance for National Guard and Reserve personnel will be issued by the National Guard Bureau and Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command

For more information, contact the personnel readiness unit at 828-4060 or 828-1997.

Post Deployment Mobilization Respite Absence program offers heavily deployed Airmen more down time

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