Form DA 31: Fill Out Online in 2026

DA Form 31, Request and Authority for Leave, is the U.S. Army’s standard document for requesting time away from duty. Often called DA 31, it records the type of leave, the requested dates, and other details needed for review. A commander or another authorized official must approve the request before the Soldier leaves duty.

The form creates an official record that the absence was requested and approved under Army rules. Soldiers must carry the approved form while on leave. This record can show that you followed military procedures and did not intend to be absent without leave, known as AWOL. You may also see the document called a DA 31 leave Form or DA-31 Form.

Soldiers use the Army DA 31 to request emergency leave, vacation leave, travel, or an extended pass. It records the requested dates and shows whether the proper authority approved the absence.

The approved DA 31 Form also serves as proof that the Soldier has permission to be away and should be carried during leave. Sections for extensions, departure checks, and return confirmation help the Army verify the actual leave period. Finance staff use this information to calculate chargeable leave and update the Soldier’s leave balance.

DA Form 31 is issued by the U.S. Department of the Army and published through the Army Publishing Directorate (APD). Its use is governed by Army Regulation 600-8-10. You can also check the APD website if you need the official source for Army publications.

PDFLeader has a blank DA 31 fillable document preloaded in our browser-based editor, so you do not need to download a template from another site. PDFLeader helps you fill out and download the completed form for future use. PDFLeader does not file or submit the form to the Army or your unit.

Send your completed DA 31 through your chain of command. It normally goes first to your immediate supervisor, then to your unit commander for review and approval. Your unit’s S-1 or administrative office often manages the routing.

If your unit uses IPPS-A, enter the leave request there, attach any required documents, and submit it through the portal. The request then routes electronically through your chain of command. If your unit requires a printed DA 31 Form, deliver it in person to the designated supervisor or administrative office. Some units may accept it by mail. Check your unit’s local procedure before sending the form.

The Soldier requesting chargeable leave completes blocks 2 through 8 and 9a through 10b of Form DA 31. The Soldier signs block 11 and sends the form with a copy of the Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) to the supervisor. The supervisor checks the entries, recommends approval or disapproval, and signs the form. The approving authority or commander then approves or disapproves the request, signs block 13, and gives a reason in block 17 if the request is denied.

After approval, personnel and finance offices use Form DA 31 for pay accounting and leave-record checks. The form and LES go back to the personnel office. The Soldier copy, original, and organization copy are kept under unit procedures.

DA Form 31 requires signatures from the Soldier, supervisor, and approving authority. Check the latest updates and your unit’s rules before signing. You can fill out and download the form with PDFLeader, but our platform does not support digital signatures or submit the form. If your unit requires a DoD PKI/CAC-based digital signature, use a certificate-based tool after downloading. You can also print the form for handwritten signatures.

Before completing DA Form 31, have your NAME (Last, First, Middle Initial), SSN, GRADE/RANK, and DATE ready. You also need your LEAVE ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include Area Code), including the street, city, state, and ZIP code. Choose the TYPE OF LEAVE: ordinary, permissive TDY, emergency, or other.

Check your leave records for the NUMBER OF DAYS (Accrued / Requested / Advanced) to enter in fields 9a, 9b, and 9c. You must also provide the SIGNATURE OF REQUESTOR in field 11. The DA 31 Form does not list a supporting document that must be attached. Ask your unit if it requires proof for your leave type, such as emergency leave documentation.

Form DA 31 has no fixed due date. If your unit directs you to use it, submit the form as far before your planned departure as possible. A common guideline is at least 30 days in advance. This gives your chain of command time to review and approve the request. Processing time may vary by unit and command structure.

Soldiers now normally submit absence requests through IPPS-A. Use DA Form 31 only when your unit or S-1 office tells you to do so, and follow any local submission deadline.

DA Form 31 is not required when a short absence is covered by a regular or special pass instead of leave. For a unit fully migrated to IPPS-A, submit the electronic absence request in that system. IPPS-A creates the digital equivalent, so you do not need a paper form or a DA 31 fillable file.

A supervisor signing for an unavailable requestor does not create an exemption. It only allows the supervisor to complete the signature step for the requestor. The request still must be recorded through the required paper or electronic process.