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pay for all airline costs from the Gateway in Kuwait to the airport nearest the service member’s leave
destination and return. Service members are not required to come home during R&R leave; they can
meet their families somewhere else if they plan to enjoy their leave time at a different location. Leave may
not be taken within any of the designated countries noted above.

Countries with TRAVEL Warnings issued by the
6 State Department.

i. United States Army Europe & Kosovo R&R leave Program: The United States Army Europe
(USAREUR) also has an R&R leave program for Soldiers and Department of the Army (DA) civilians who
are serving in the Kosovo area of operation, providing up to fifteen days (including travel time) of
chargeable leave away from the area of operation. To be eligible for the program, Soldiers must be
projected to remain in Kosovo for 270 days or more, must have served at least sixty consecutive days in
Kosovo prior to taking R&R leave, and must commence travel no later than sixty days prior to unit transfer
out of Kosovo. Eligible DA civilians must be projected to remain in Kosovo for 180 days or more, must
have served at least sixty consecutive days in Kosovo prior to taking R&R leave, and must commence
travel no later than sixty days prior to transfer out of Kosovo.

j. Paternity Leave: Married Soldiers serving on active duty whose wife gives birth to a child are authorized
up to 10 days non-chargeable administrative absence. Paternity leave must be taken consecutively and
within 45 days after the birth of a child. Paternity leave cannot be combined with R&R leave. Deployed
Soldiers have 60 days after returning from deployment to utilize the 10 days of paternity leave.

k. Personnel Assistance Points (PAP): As a service member goes through the R&R process, he or she
will go through the Gateway in Kuwait, and a Personnel Assistance Point (PAP) in Europe (if they are

stationed in Europe), or in the United States at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta or
Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. For more information on the USCENTCOM R&R leave program or
the USAREUR Kosovo R&R leave program, please contact the appropriate PAP office.

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