How to Use Terminal Leave when You Are Retiring from the Air Force

Terminal leave applies after the Permissive TDY, which allows retiring military personnel to start their house hunting, is up. But how can retiring military personnel make good use of their terminal leave?

Active duty members accrue 2.5 days of paid leave each month, which works out to 30 days of paid annual leave, while they are on active duty. But as their retirement date approaches, many members will have a lot of unused leave that has built up. Once the Permissive TDY is up, the terminal leave will begin. Technically, retiring military members are still considered active duty during this period and will continue to receive their active duty pay throughout their terminal leave. They could still be recalled back in times of national crisis, such as war, but this does not happen very often.

How to Use Terminal Leave when You Are Retiring from the Air Force: Job Search

The initial intention of terminal leave is to use up what is owed by the US government to the retiring member, but the military also expects many to use this time to start their job search. Beginning the job search while the retiring member has 30 days or more of leave has many benefits. The retiring military member will not need to ask for time off from work in order to start searching for a new job, as the last day of work is followed by Permissive TDY before terminal leave begins. Writing a résumé, collecting a list of referees and looking into local openings all takes time. Terminal leave gives retiring military members the time needed to make a start on their job search while still receiving their active duty pay.

How to Use Terminal Leave when You Are Retiring from the Air Force: Travel

Retiring military members will all have different priorities. While some will be keen to head back into the world of work again after a week or two, others would prefer to use their terminal leave to travel, visit relatives and friends or see a country they have always wanted to go to. With no immediate job to come back home to, this can be the perfect opportunity to take the trip of a lifetime.