Form DAF 988: Fill Out Online in 2026

DAF Form 988, Leave Request/Authorization, is used by Department of the Air Force personnel to request time away from duty. It applies to Air Force and Space Force service members. Some files may be labeled af 988 leave form PDF, reflecting the Form’s former Air Force name.

The Form records the requested leave dates, contact details, and approval decision. Before leaving, a service member must have an approved leave authorization or special order. The member must also have enough money to cover travel and other expenses. This process helps the unit track the member’s status and creates an official record of authorized time away from duty.

You use DAF Form 988 to request military leave and send it to a supervisor or commander for approval. It covers ordinary, emergency, and convalescent leave, as well as permissive temporary duty, known as PTDY, and advance or excess leave. Someone searching for an AF 988 leave form PDF may need it before taking one of these types of leave.

The form also records when your leave starts and ends, where you can be reached during an emergency, and how many days count against your leave balance. After you return, it helps confirm the leave dates and chargeable days.

The Department of the Air Force issues DAF Form 988 through its official publications system. Because it was formerly designated AF Form 988, older records may use the search phrase AF 988 leave form PDF.

PDFLeader has a blank copy pre-loaded in our browser-based editor, so you do not need to download a template elsewhere. You can fill out the form and download the completed copy for future use. PDFLeader does not file or submit the form.

After you download the completed Form DAF 988, submit it to your approving authority. This is usually your immediate supervisor or unit commander. You can send it electronically through the Air Force LeaveWeb system when your unit uses that process.

There is no standard mail process or outside agency that receives this form. If your unit requires a paper copy, give it in person to the supervisor, commander, or office named in your unit instructions. Follow your command’s rules for approval and record storage.

The requesting Air Force service member completes the member section of the AF 988 leave form PDF. This includes requests for regular leave, emergency leave, or permissive temporary duty. The member’s supervisor or approving authority completes Section II. The supervisor or a designee gets a leave authorization number before signing the approval. A medical authority also completes Block 7 when the request involves convalescent leave.

After approval, supervisors and leave processing staff use Form DAF 988 to approve, track, and manage the leave record. The Air Force finance office processes Part I for pay and accounting purposes. Part III is kept for completion after the service member returns, so the leave record can be closed.

You can sign Form DAF 988 electronically on PDFLeader, then download the completed form. A simple electronic signature is not standard for this form. Air Force processing may require a CAC-based digital signature, which PDFLeader does not support, or a handwritten signature on a paper copy. Check the latest Air Force updates before signing. PDFLeader does not submit the form, so you must complete the required submission process elsewhere.

Before completing an AF 988 leave form PDF, have the Date of Request, your SSN, Name (Last, First, Middle Initial), Grade, and Current LV (Leave) Balance ready. Check the balance against your LES or the orderly room leave listing. For convalescent leave, the appropriate medical authority must complete, sign, and stamp Recommend Convalescent Leave.

Choose the Type of Leave and prepare any PTDY reason or Remarks. Enter the No. Days Requested. Your supervisor or designee gets the Leave Authorization Number from the unit orderly room just before signing the approval, no more than 14 days before the effective date. You will also need the leave dates and times, leave area, emergency contact number, and details for the Leave Request Certification. The certification confirms that leave will be charged to your account and that pay may be withheld if the leave is not earned before separation.

DAF Form 988 is due before your requested leave period begins. There is no single calendar deadline. Your leave dates set the timing, and you must send the form to the approving authority early enough to receive approval before departure.

If you submit through the Air Force LeaveWeb system, allow time for review and possible delays. Before leaving, you must have an approved leave authorization or special order. You must also have enough funds to cover travel and other leave expenses.

You generally do not need Form DAF 988 when your organization processes leave through a different system. This applies to Department of Defense civilian employees and other non-military personnel. Military members traveling under permanent change of station (PCS) orders also follow a separate leave process.

Available sources do not identify other exemptions or dollar-based thresholds. Before deciding not to prepare the form, check the current AFI 36-3003 and ask your unit leave office which process applies to your situation.