LeaveWeb system takes off

Air Force personnel worldwide can now submit leave requests and receive approvals electronically using the service's new online leave system, LeaveWeb.

The paperless process allows personnel to electronically coordinate leave with their supervisors and financial services offices.

The Air Mobility Command's financial management team finished deploying the system last month to all major Air Force units except the 85th Group at Naval Air Station Keflavik, Iceland, which is scheduled to adopt LeaveWeb in April, officials said.

Michael Montelongo, assistant secretary of the Air Force for financial management and comptroller, said the service took advantage of technology to enhance customer support, "ensuring our people have an easy and efficient means of managing their leave." LeaveWeb is part of a customer service initiative that is designed to Web-enable most Air Force transactions related to pay, personal finances, personnel, travel and leave that are now paper-intensive, Montelongo said.

LeaveWeb currently supports 95 percent of all leave types, but officials are looking to expand the system to include convalescent leave, emergency leave and permissive temporary duty, he said. The system was created by the 375th Comptroller Squadron at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and was first used there in 2000, said Col. Dave Price, Air Mobility Command comptroller, adding that he was proud the command was able to share the system with the rest of the Air Force.

In addition to adding more leave types in the future, Air Force officials said they also plan to enhance LeaveWeb with pull-down menus for rank and grade and provide travelers with electronic copies of travel voucher settlements.