Enterprise Prepares its Sailors for E-leave

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jacob D. Galito, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) is preparing to implement the electronic leave program (E-leave) that will go into effect at afloat commands in October.

E-leave is designed to help Sailors route leave requests in a more efficient manner by eliminating paperwork.

Soon, Sailors aboard Enterprise will request leave by logging into a computer with the local area network and accessing their Electronic Service Record (ESR).

Previously, Sailors were required to complete handwritten forms, in triplicate, to request leave.

The new process will help to ensure that pay entitlements are properly credited, eliminate delays in processing time and automate the command leave logs. The self-service computer program enables Sailors to route their leave information through the chain of command more efficiently.

"The program will help transfer the workload from the Personnel office to the Sailors' respective department," said Personnel Specialist Seaman Ernest L. Pryor, Enterprise's leave control log administrator. "This will allow a department to be responsible for their Sailors' leave [requests], streamlining the process."

According to NAVADMIN 252/10, afloat commands possessing Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System Servers are scheduled to begin rolling the new process out beginning in October – though it will likely take more than two years to implement fleetwide.

"One leave paper alone can take between seven and 10 days to route for approval," said Chief Personnel Specialist (SW/AW) Sidney A. Hunt Jr., Personnel division leading chief petty officer. "With E-leave, the request could be approved within minutes."

For Sailors getting ready to depart from the command for shore duty, it's important to become familiar with the ESR application.

"It's a good thing because it puts more power in the hands of the Sailor," said Hunt.

The idea of empowering Sailors is not the only benefit of the program.

"We process hundreds of leave papers a month," said Hunt. "Once we streamline the process it will free up a lot of time within the department."

Currently 21.6 percent of all pay transactions submitted each year are due to processing leave requests.

Shore-based Sailors can establish their ESR account by logging into https://nsips.nmci.navy.mil More information will be released as the process is implemented at afloat commands. Sailors may obtain an E-leave user guide, training presentations and additional resources on the Navy Knowledge Online website.

Enterprise is at sea conducting work-ups in preparation for its 21st deployment.