What's involved in a military leave of absence for enlisted members?

I’m wondering how leave works for enlisted members of the military. Can you take a break for personal reasons or emergencies? What are the rules and lengths of time that are generally allowed?

In the United States military, enlisted members can request different types of leave for personal reasons or emergencies. The most common type is ordinary leave, which is considered non-chargeable leave and typically allows a service member up to 30 days of leave per year. This annual leave is usually requested in advance and is subject to the approval of the soldier's unit commander. The precise length of the leave, however, can vary based on the needs of the unit and its current operations.

In case of an emergency, service members can request emergency leave which, as the name suggests, is intended for immediate family emergencies or crisis situations. Like ordinary leave, this is subject to approval and is generally granted for a short period, often no more than a few days to a week, but could be extended if the situation warrants it.

There's also convalescent leave in case of an illness or surgery, which is non-chargeable and the length is determined by the doctor concerned with the member's case.

While all these are officially sanctioned leaves, each branch of the U.S. military has its own regulations regarding applying for and granting leaves. It's important to check with one's commanding officer or human resources department to understand the specific procedures and qualifications. Lastly, leaves of longer durations, officially known as sabbaticals, are more complicated and often involve specific conditions for service extensions or commitments.