Fill Out Form DA 31 Online in 2026

Request and authorize chargeable or non-chargeable leave, including emergency and travel leave, then fill in departure and return dates and download your signed copy.

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How to fill out a DA 31 Form

Follow the steps below and get it right the first time.

1

Open the form

Access the pre-loaded leave form in the editor, with no upload needed.

2

Fill in your details

Complete every required field, from leave dates to your signature block.

3

Download as PDF

Save your completed leave request as a PDF file, ready to print or file.

What is a DA 31 Form?

The DA 31 Form is the Army's official leave request form. Soldiers use the DA 31 leave form to request and record time away from duty, listing name, rank, unit, leave dates, leave type, and the approving officer's signature. This DA 31 example matters because it turns a verbal request into an official record kept in Army files. That paper trail helps your chain of command confirm you followed proper procedure and shows you had no intention of being absent without leave.

Key Takeaways

  • DA Form 31 documents a soldier's leave request
  • Form captures rank, unit, dates, and leave type
  • Approving authority's signature makes it official

What is a DA 31 Form used for?

Soldiers and units rely on this form to manage time away from duty. Common uses include:

  • Requesting and authorizing chargeable or non-chargeable leave, including emergency, personal, and travel leave
  • Requesting an extended pass
  • Recording a soldier's absence from duty
  • Documenting the official leave request, which becomes the approval record once signed
  • Tracking departure and return dates, extensions, and verifying return for chargeable leave balances

What information is required on a DA 31 Form?

  • Name

    Enter your name in Last, First, Middle Initial format on the DA 31 leave form.

  • SSN

    Provide your Social Security Number so the army DA 31 can identify your record.

  • Rank/Grade and Date

    Fill in your current rank or grade and the date you complete the DA 31 Form army.

  • Leave Address

    List the street, city, state, ZIP code, and phone number where you can be reached on leave.

  • Type of Leave

    Mark whether you request ordinary, permissive TDY, emergency, or other leave on the da-31 form.

  • Number of Days Leave

    Enter accrued leave balance, chargeable leave requested, and non-chargeable absence requested on the DA 31.

  • Signature of Requestor

    Sign field 11 to confirm the leave request details you entered are accurate.

  • Supervisor/Approving Authority Recommendation and Signature

    Have your supervisor and approving authority add their recommendation, signature, title, date, and remarks.

When is a DA 31 Form due?

A DA 31 Form has no fixed deadline set by regulation. Instead, your commanding officer or unit leave policy decides when it's due. Most units expect the DA 31 leave form at least 30 days before your leave starts, giving time for review and approval. Check with your unit for its exact timeline before you plan any travel or family visits tied to your leave dates.

Get your DA 31 leave form ready

Open DA Form 31 here, fill in your leave request, and download the completed form when you're finished.

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When is a DA 31 not required?

Once IPPS-A becomes the Army's standard leave process in 2026, soldiers stop using the DA 31 Form to request or record leave. Absences caused by mental incapacity, civil detention, or a mobile unit's early departure for operational reasons also skip the DA 31 leave form, since these periods count as duty, not leave, whether foreseeable or not.

What does a DA 31 form look like

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Frequently asked questions

A completed DA 31 needs three signatures before it becomes valid. First, the soldier requesting leave signs the form. Next, the immediate supervisor reviews the request and adds a recommendation. Finally, the approving authority signs to grant or deny the leave. Without all three signatures in place, the DA 31 Form is not considered approved.

Once a DA 31 leave form is submitted, you generally can't edit it directly. If your leave dates change, you usually need to submit a new form or use the extension section on the same DA 31 to request additional days. Your unit's leave clerk can confirm the exact process for handling changes after submission.

There's no single deadline that applies to every unit, so check with your chain of command for local timing rules. As a general practice, submit your DA 31 army leave request well before your planned departure date. This gives your supervisor and approving authority enough time to review, sign, and return the form before you're due to leave.
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