The Odyssey Of The Four Day Pass; Part One

"Needless to say (but I will anyway,) R&R time is highly valued by the individual soldier downrange. Separate units may determine the intricacies of how they manage their people’s leave and pass.

Everyone is authorized leave, but I have met those in country who have chosen not to take any leave. Personally, I could not have dealt with that. I missed my kids so much by the time that I finally went on leave that wild horses, Taliban, or recalcitrant officers would not have been able to prevent me from taking my authorized leave.

Everyone is also authorized passes. We are authorized two four day passes. Our command’s policy has been that one of those is an out-of-country pass, the other in-country. That means that, in reality, you have one pass. I’ve had down time, but never have I been authorized to just screw off for four days solid. I don’t anticipate that, either.

My time in Afghanistan is dwindling rapidly. There is no time for just screwing around for four days. There is work to do and arrangements to be made to get back to link up with my original team in preparation for leaving the country. A pass, on the other hand, is serious business."
Afghan Adventure