Q. Would you please explain the differences between using leave without pay and leave without pay-uniformed services and how it impacts someone at retirement? Am I automatically placed on LWOP-US when activated for Reserve training (title 32), or can I request LWOP and not have to make a deposit? I have been making deposits for a lot of LWOP-US over my career and would hate to find out I didn’t have to make those payments for stints less than six months.
A. No, you don’t have a choice. When called to active duty, you are automatically placed on LWOP-US unless you elect to use annual leave for some or all of that time.