How to Get a Copy of Your DA Form 31 From iPERMS

A DA Form 31 records an Army service member’s request and authorization for leave. It may be needed to verify ordinary leave, emergency leave, permissive temporary duty, transition leave, or a past absence from duty. Keeping a personal copy can help when resolving pay issues, updating personnel records, or preparing for separation.

Many soldiers expect every leave document to appear immediately in iPERMS, but availability depends on whether the form was properly processed and uploaded. The record may also be filed under a scanned document category rather than displayed with an obvious “DA Form 31” label.

Finding the Form in iPERMS

Sign in to the Army’s personnel records system through an authorized military portal and open your iPERMS record. Access may require Common Access Card authentication, a connected card reader, and a supported browser. Once inside, use the document search or record-viewing tools rather than relying only on the most recent documents shown on the opening page.

Search for terms such as “DA Form 31,” “leave,” “absence,” or “personnel action.” If the system allows filtering, review document types, dates, and source categories. A completed leave request may be stored as a PDF scan with a less descriptive title, so examine documents from the period when the leave was approved.

Checking Dates And Document Details

A leave form can include several important dates: the date the request was submitted, the approved departure and return dates, and the commander’s approval date. When reviewing search results, compare those dates with your leave and earnings statement, unit records, and personal files.

Open the document before downloading it to confirm that all pages are present. A valid copy may include the request section, approval signatures, amendments, and any remarks concerning chargeable or nonchargeable leave. If the file is incomplete, do not assume that the first page is the entire record.

Record detail	Why it matters	What to verify
Soldier information	Identifies the correct service member	Name, rank, and DoD ID or service number
Leave dates	Establishes the approved absence	Start date, return date, and total days
Leave type	Explains the purpose or accounting treatment	Ordinary, emergency, permissive, or transition leave
Approval	Shows authorization by the proper authority	Signature, electronic approval, or commander action
Amendments	Documents changes to the original request	Revised dates, cancellation, or extension
File completeness	Ensures the record can be used later	Every page is readable and included

Downloading A Personal Copy

After locating the correct document, select the download, export, or print option provided by iPERMS. Save the file as a PDF using a descriptive name, such as “DA31_Annual_Leave_March_2024.” A clear filename makes it easier to find the record when submitting a pay inquiry or separation packet.

Store the file in a secure location because it contains personally identifiable information. An encrypted personal storage service, a password-protected computer, or an approved military system is preferable to an unprotected public device. Keep the original downloaded file unchanged, and create a separate copy if you need to redact information for a specific administrative request.

When The DA Form 31 Is Missing

If no leave document appears, check whether the form was fully processed. A request that was drafted but never approved may not have been uploaded to the official record. Likewise, a form retained only by the unit orderly room, S-1, or finance office may not yet be visible in iPERMS.

Contact your unit S-1 or military personnel office and provide useful details: approximate leave dates, type of leave, duty station, unit, and the reason you need the record. Ask whether the approved form exists in the local personnel file and whether it was submitted for scanning. Avoid sending duplicate requests without tracking the original, since multiple versions can create uncertainty about which document is authoritative.

Using Other Army Records For Verification

iPERMS is only one source of personnel information. Your unit may maintain a leave control log, and finance records may show leave taken or leave balance adjustments. These supporting records cannot always replace an approved DA Form 31, but they can help establish the dates and identify errors when the scanned document is missing.

You can also review related personnel information through Army systems and learn more about viewing your ERB. The exact system available to you may depend on your status, access permissions, and current Army recordkeeping procedures, so use official channels for sensitive requests.

Uploading A Replacement Document

If your personnel office gives you an approved copy and directs you to submit it for record correction, follow the current iPERMS upload or document-submission instructions. Before sending it, make sure the scan is legible, includes every page, and shows the necessary approvals. Do not crop out signatures, dates, or identifying information that is required to authenticate the form.

Keep proof that the replacement was submitted, such as a confirmation screen or transaction number. Guidance on uploading documents to iPERMS can help explain the general process, but local personnel instructions and official Army procedures take precedence. Allow time for quality review and indexing before expecting the document to appear in your record.

Avoiding Common Record Problems

A missing DA Form 31 is often caused by a filing issue rather than a lost leave authorization. Soldiers may also confuse an unsigned request with an approved form or mistake a leave and earnings statement for the authorization document. Review the entire file and compare it with the information held by the unit and finance office.

Keep leave paperwork with other important military records, including evaluation reports and separation documents. Understanding how personnel documents differ is useful when organizing your file; for example, an NCOER and OER comparison can prevent unrelated evaluation records from being filed or requested under the wrong category.

Practical Steps For A Complete Record

• Search iPERMS using the form name, leave dates, and alternate keywords.
• Download every page and check that signatures, approvals, and amendments are readable.
• Contact the unit S-1 or personnel office if the approved form is not available.
• Save the PDF securely with a clear filename and a backup copy.
• Keep submission receipts when requesting a replacement upload or record correction.

A personal archive should include the approved DA Form 31, related amendments, and any official correspondence about corrections. Review the archive before PCS moves, mobilization, separation, or a dispute involving leave balances.

Use iPERMS first, verify the document carefully, and follow up through your S-1 when the record is incomplete. Taking these steps gives you a reliable copy of your leave authorization and creates a clear trail for correcting the official personnel record.