LEAVE REQUEST REFERENCE

Changing or Canceling a DA Form 31 Leave Request

Published 2026-08-16 · Updated 2026-08-16

A leave plan can change after a DA Form 31, Request and Authority for Leave, has been started or approved. Travel may be delayed, family plans may shift, or a Soldier may need to return earlier than expected. The useful response is not to guess which version of a request controls. Treat the change as a coordination task: notify the people who need to know, use the current local process, and keep the dates and contact information consistent across the records your unit uses.

This article is a general reference, not an approval authority or a substitute for Army policy. Leave, pass, and travel requirements can depend on the type of absence, the installation, the Soldier’s status, and unit procedures. A commander, S-1, or other designated office can tell you what applies to your request.

Start with the approved details

Before asking for a change, look at the most recent leave request and any approval notice available through your unit’s process. Confirm the requested departure date, return date, leave address, phone number, type of absence, and the status of the request. Those details give everyone the same starting point and reduce the risk of discussing an older draft.

It also helps to separate a proposed change from a confirmed one. For example, a changed flight reservation may explain why you want different dates, but it does not by itself change an approved leave request. Likewise, an informal conversation may alert a leader to a problem but may not complete the documentation or routing the unit requires. Ask which record is considered current and what action is needed to update it.

Write down the change clearly

A short, factual summary makes coordination easier. State what was originally requested, what needs to change, and why the timing matters. Include the new dates if they are known. If a new leave address or reachable phone number is involved, identify that too. Do not add personal detail that is unnecessary for the request; provide supporting information only through the channels and to the people your unit directs.

For a cancellation, be equally specific. Say whether the request has not yet been approved, whether approved leave will no longer be taken, or whether you need to end leave early. These are different situations operationally, even if people casually describe all of them as “canceling leave.” The local office can then direct the correct next step.

Notify the right people promptly

Follow your unit’s reporting and notification rules. In many cases, a Soldier should begin with the chain of command and the office that manages local leave processing. Do not wait until the original departure or return time if you already know the plan has changed. Early notice gives leaders and administrative staff a chance to identify any duty, accountability, travel, or routing considerations before the change becomes urgent.

Use the communication method your unit has designated. That might be an in-person discussion, an official email, a local leave system, a duty phone, or another established channel. Personal messaging can be useful for immediate awareness when permitted, but it should not be assumed to replace the required process. If you cannot reach the usual point of contact, use the unit’s established alternate or duty procedure rather than relying on silence as approval.

Keep your message easy to verify

When you communicate, include identifying information only as required by the channel, then give the original and proposed dates, the request status if known, and a reliable way to contact you. If your unit asks for documents or a revised form, use the official or locally approved method to provide them. Keep a copy of what you submit and any response you receive, consistent with unit guidance and applicable privacy rules.

A practical question to ask is: “What do I need to do so the leave record reflects the new plan?” This avoids assuming that one person or one system has automatically updated every related record. It also invites the unit to tell you whether further signatures, routing, or a new request are needed.

Understand common kinds of changes

Not every adjustment has the same effect. A date change can affect the amount of leave requested, the planned return date, and the time available for routing. A change of address can affect how the unit can reach you in an emergency. A cancellation before departure may be handled differently from a request to return from leave early. Local procedures determine what documentation is needed in each case.

Changing departure or return dates

Do not assume that changing travel arrangements automatically changes leave dates. Tell the unit the original dates and the dates you are requesting instead. Ask whether the request can be amended, whether a replacement request is required, and whether you must wait for approval before acting on the new plan. If the change means reporting later or earlier than originally expected, verify where and when you must report.

Changing the leave location or contact details

Accurate contact information matters during an authorized absence. If you will stay at a different address, travel through a different area, or use a new phone number, notify the appropriate unit contact using the required process. Avoid treating the address field as a minor detail; local instructions may specify how changes are reported and documented.

Canceling before leave begins

If you decide not to take approved leave, notify the unit before the planned start whenever possible. Ask how the request should be closed or canceled and whether you must report for normal duty, complete another action, or retain a copy of the updated record. Until the unit confirms the plan, continue to follow your duty and reporting obligations.

Returning early or needing help while away

When circumstances require an early return, contact the unit promptly and ask for direction. The right steps can depend on the reason for the return, the leave status, and where you are located. If an emergency affects your ability to return as planned, communicate as soon as it is safe and practical, use the unit’s designated contact method, and follow instructions from authorized officials. This site cannot determine whether a specific absence is authorized.

Review the updated request before you rely on it

Once the unit gives direction, check the updated information carefully. Compare dates, address, phone number, type of absence, and any required remarks with the plan you intend to follow. If a revised DA Form 31 or system entry is issued, make sure you understand which version is current. An old PDF, screenshot, or email thread may not show the final status.

It is also worth confirming practical details that are outside the form itself. Ask where to report on return, whether there are check-in requirements, and whether the change affects any planned duty, travel, or accountability procedure. Only the responsible unit can answer those questions for a particular Soldier.

A simple change-request checklist

• Review the latest request or approval and identify the exact item that needs to change.
• Notify your chain of command and follow the unit’s established leave-processing instructions.
• Provide the original details, proposed details, and a reachable contact method.
• Ask whether the request must be amended, replaced, canceled, or otherwise re-routed.
• Wait for the required confirmation before relying on a changed plan.
• Keep the final approved details available while you are away, as directed by your unit.

This checklist is deliberately general. It is meant to help you organize a conversation with your unit, not to create a universal approval process. Current official Army guidance and local instructions control.

Where to confirm current information

Use official Army resources for the current DA Form 31 and governing policy, and use your unit for submission, routing, and approval instructions. The Army Publishing Directorate publishes official Army publications and forms. Your S-1, chain of command, and installation personnel office can help identify the local process and the appropriate contact when plans change.

For a routine change, clear communication and timely coordination are usually more useful than trying to solve the paperwork alone. Give the unit accurate information, ask what must be updated, and keep following the instructions you receive.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change my DA Form 31 after it has been approved?

Possibly, but the required action depends on current policy and your unit’s process. Contact your chain of command or leave-processing office, explain the change, and ask what approval or updated documentation is required.

Does changing a flight automatically change my leave request?

No. Travel arrangements and the leave request are not the same record. Report the proposed date change and obtain direction through the established unit process.

What should I do if I need to return from leave early?

Contact your unit promptly using its designated method and request instructions. Confirm where and when to report and whether the leave record needs to be updated.

Who can tell me whether my change is approved?

Your commander or another official authorized by the current unit process can provide that answer. This independent reference site cannot approve leave or interpret a specific case.