How to Request a DA Form 31 Through iPERMS Integration

A DA Form 31, Request and Authority for Leave, documents a soldier’s approved absence from duty. In current Army workflows, the request is generally initiated and routed through the Integrated Personnel and Pay System–Army (IPPS-A), while iPERMS serves as a secure repository for completed personnel records.

Understanding the difference between these systems prevents a common mistake: searching iPERMS for a button that creates or submits a leave request. iPERMS is primarily used to store and retrieve documents. The leave request, approval, and duty-status actions usually take place in IPPS-A or through a unit’s designated administrative process.

Once the request is approved, the completed DA Form 31 or supporting leave record may be transferred, uploaded, or indexed for long-term storage. The exact handoff can depend on current Army configuration, unit procedures, and whether the document is generated electronically or handled by a supporting S-1 office.

Understand The Systems

IPPS-A is the system normally associated with personnel transactions such as absence requests, leave approval routing, and related pay or duty-status updates. A soldier enters the required information, selects the appropriate leave category, and submits the request to the designated approval chain.

iPERMS has a different purpose. It maintains official personnel documents and allows authorized users to review records that have been received and indexed. A DA Form 31 appearing in iPERMS does not necessarily mean the request was created there. It usually means the approved or completed record was sent to the Army’s official document repository.

This distinction also applies to electronic signatures. Soldiers who routinely sign Army forms online may benefit from reviewing an electronic NCOER signing guide, since identity verification, certificate selection, and signature validation can affect whether a digital document is accepted.

Prepare The Leave Request

Before opening the absence request, collect the information required by your unit and the system. Typical details include the first and last day of leave, return date, leave address, contact telephone number, leave type, and the number of chargeable days. Check the duty calendar and leave balance so the request matches your actual availability.

The approval chain is equally important. A request routed to the wrong supervisor or commander may remain pending even when every field is correct. Confirm the local routing rules with your team leader, first-line supervisor, or S-1 section, especially for ordinary leave, emergency leave, pass periods attached to leave, foreign travel, or travel requiring additional clearance.

Use consistent dates throughout the request and related travel documents. If the leave begins after duty hours, includes a weekend or holiday, or crosses a reporting period, follow the unit’s instructions for recording chargeable days and departure and return times.

Submit And Route The Request

Sign in to IPPS-A using the authorized Army access method and locate the absence request function. Select the leave or absence category that matches your situation, enter the dates and contact information, attach supporting documents when required, and review the form before submission. An attachment may be necessary for emergency circumstances, foreign travel, or other command-directed requirements.

After submission, monitor the request’s status rather than assuming it has reached the approving authority. A pending, returned, or rejected request may require a correction or resubmission. Approval in the system should occur before departure unless the situation qualifies for an emergency process under applicable command guidance.

When an electronic DA Form 31 is produced, inspect the completed copy for the approval status, signatures, dates, and leave address. A generated form with missing approval information is not the same as an authorized leave document. Save a permitted copy for personal records and follow local instructions for presenting it before departure.

Know Where Each Document Belongs

The following distinction helps explain how the leave process and iPERMS integration work together:

Task or Record	Usual System or Office	Soldier’s Responsibility
Create an absence request	IPPS-A	Enter accurate leave dates and details
Route the request	IPPS-A approval workflow	Monitor status and respond to returns
Approve leave	Authorized supervisor or commander	Wait for required approval
Generate or complete DA Form 31	IPPS-A or unit administrative process	Review signatures, dates, and status
Store the official document	iPERMS or Army records process	Verify that the record is received
Correct a missing or inaccurate record	S-1, records manager, or designated support office	Provide a legible approved copy and supporting evidence

The final storage step may not happen immediately after approval. Some records are transmitted through an automated process, while others require an administrative office to upload and index the document. Local procedures can also determine whether the soldier submits the document, the S-1 section handles it, or another records office completes the action.

Verify The iPERMS Record

After the leave period is approved and the document has had time to process, sign in to iPERMS and review the relevant document category. Search for the DA Form 31 or the personnel document associated with the absence. Check that the file is readable, complete, and associated with the correct record.

If the document is missing, first confirm that the leave request was fully approved rather than merely saved or submitted. Then check whether your unit requires a waiting period, manual upload, or records transmittal. Keep evidence such as the approval notification, completed form, or S-1 correspondence when requesting assistance.

A document can also be present but unusable if it lacks a final signature, contains incorrect dates, or is filed under an unexpected category. Do not alter an approved form yourself. Ask the responsible administrative or records office how to submit a corrected version while preserving the original audit trail.

Avoid Common Processing Problems

Several small errors can delay both leave approval and document filing. Incomplete contact information, inconsistent dates, an incorrect leave type, and missing supporting documents are frequent reasons for returned requests. A request submitted shortly before departure may also encounter delays if the approval chain is unavailable.

Use these practices to reduce avoidable issues:

• Review the leave balance and duty calendar before entering dates.
• Confirm the correct IPPS-A approval chain with the unit administrator or S-1.
• Check every electronic signature, approval status, and date on the completed DA Form 31.
• Keep a secure copy of the approved document and related correspondence.
• Verify the iPERMS record after processing and report discrepancies promptly.

For general guidance on Army administrative records, forms, and personnel documentation, the EES Army resource center can provide additional informational material. It is not an official government portal, so authoritative decisions should come from your chain of command, S-1, servicing personnel office, or current Army policy.

Keep the leave request, approval record, and archived document aligned from start to finish. Begin in the correct personnel system, confirm command approval, and then verify that the completed DA Form 31 reaches iPERMS through the process used by your unit. Taking those steps gives you a defensible record of authorized leave and makes future personnel reviews easier.