AF Form 985: Report of Travel Time/Leave (JUMPS) Guide

AF Form 985: Report of Travel Time/Leave (JUMPS) Guide – U.S. Air Force Airmen and Guardians frequently deal with Permanent Change of Station (PCS), Temporary Duty (TDY), en route leave, and travel-related absences. Accurate reporting ensures correct leave charging, pay processing, and compliance with Department of the Air Force policy. The AF Form 985, officially titled Report of Travel Time/Leave (JUMPS), plays a key role in this process. It helps the Financial Services Office (FSO) calculate chargeable leave when actual travel or absence time exceeds authorized travel time or proceed time.

This guide explains what AF Form 985 is, when to use it, how it fits into the broader military leave program under DAFI 36-3003 (Military Leave Program, updated February 26, 2026), and where to access the official form. It targets active-duty, Reserve, and Guard members navigating leave and travel entitlements.

What Is AF Form 985?

AF Form 985 is a specialized document used within the Joint Uniform Military Pay System (JUMPS) to report actual travel times, departure/arrival details, and leave periods associated with official travel. The FSO relies on it (along with supporting documents like travel orders and AF Form 988) to determine how much of an absence counts as non-chargeable travel time versus chargeable leave.

Key purposes include:

  • Documenting actual travel duration for PCS, TDY, or emergency leave scenarios.
  • Adjusting leave balances when members take en route leave (ordinary leave combined with official travel).
  • Supporting accurate pay and leave accounting in DJMS (Defense Joint Military Pay System).

It does not replace the primary DAF Form 988 (Leave Request/Authorization), which initiates most leave requests. Instead, AF Form 985 serves as a supporting report for travel-time reconciliation, especially when absences exceed authorized travel allowances.

When Do You Need AF Form 985?

Use AF Form 985 primarily in these situations (per DAFI 36-3003):

  • PCS or TDY with En Route Leave: Authorized travel time (based on Joint Travel Regulations distance tables) is generally not chargeable as leave. Any excess time, or leave taken en route, requires precise reporting so the FSO can charge only the appropriate leave days.
  • Travel Time vs. Chargeable Leave Calculations: The form helps distinguish allowable proceed time, delay en route, or house-hunting time (in permissive reassignments) from leave.
  • Emergency Leave Travel: When combined with funded or space-available travel, to document non-chargeable portions (e.g., certain DoD aircraft segments).
  • Recall from Leave or Excess Absences: To adjust charging if a member is recalled or experiences unavoidable delays.
  • Reconciliation for Pay Accuracy: The FSO uses the completed form to update leave balances and prevent over- or under-charging.

Note: Travel time with en route leave follows specific rules. The allowed travel window is not charged as leave, but excess authorized absence beyond that (plus any proceed time) is charged to the member’s leave account.

Recent 2026 updates to DAFI 36-3003 emphasize flexibility during PCS moves, including at least 30 days of en route leave and incremental Permissive TDY (PTDY) for household goods movement. Accurate AF Form 985 reporting remains essential to track these entitlements properly.

How AF Form 985 Fits into Air Force Leave Policy?

DAFI 36-3003 (February 2026 edition) governs the Military Leave Program and references AF Form 985 explicitly in sections on travel time, en route leave, and FSO responsibilities.

Key related concepts:

  • Authorized Travel Time: Determined by official distance (Defense Table of Official Distances) and mode of travel. Not charged as leave.
  • En Route Leave: Ordinary leave taken during PCS/TDY travel. The FSO charges only excess time beyond authorized travel/proceed periods.
  • Permissive TDY (PTDY): Non-chargeable for certain house-hunting or relocation activities (with updated incremental use options in 2026).
  • Special Leave Accrual (SLA) and Use-or-Lose: Members should verify balances with the FSO. “Use or lose” applies to leave exceeding 60 days (with SLA adjustments) before October 1.
  • Parental Leave and Other Special Leaves: These interact with travel reporting but follow separate accrual and charging rules.

The FSO computes final leave charges using AF Form 985 data. Members can request balance verification to manage “use or lose” risk.

Pro Tip: Always coordinate with your unit commander, Military Personnel Section (MPS), and FSO. Commanders determine certain travel authorizations without re-delegation in specific cases (e.g., government vs. commercial aircraft for emergency leave).

How to Obtain and Complete AF Form 985?

Official Download:

These links point to the current physical form version hosted on the official site. Always verify you are on www.e-publishing.af.mil for the latest edition, as forms can be updated.

Completion Guidance: Detailed block-by-block instructions appear on the form itself or in supporting publications (older versions referenced tables for items 14–26 covering dates, times, accounting citations, etc.). Key elements typically include:

  • Member’s personal and duty information.
  • Departure and arrival dates/times for travel segments.
  • Authorized vs. actual travel details.
  • Leave periods taken in conjunction with travel.
  • Signatures from the member and approving official.

Use plain bond paper for continuations if needed. For complex PCS/TDY scenarios, attach copies of travel orders and AF Form 988.

Modern Processing: Many units integrate leave via LeaveWeb or myFSS, but AF Form 985 remains the manual tool for detailed travel-time reporting to the FSO, especially for JUMPS/DJMS adjustments.

Common Scenarios and Best Practices

  1. PCS Move with En Route Leave — Report exact travel legs so non-chargeable time is maximized and only true excess leave is deducted.
  2. Delays or Recalls — Document unavoidable delays (e.g., weather, mission needs) to potentially avoid full leave charging (if under 3 days in some recall cases).
  3. Emergency Leave — Combine with AF Form 972 when funded travel applies; use AF Form 985 for time reconciliation.
  4. Verification — After submission, check your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) and consult the FSO for balance accuracy.

Tips for U.S. Air Force Members:

  • Submit promptly upon return to avoid pay discrepancies.
  • Keep digital and hard copies of all related documents.
  • Stay updated via official channels: DAFI 36-3003 is available on e-Publishing (latest: February 26, 2026).
  • For PCS-specific flexibilities introduced in 2026, review guidance on incremental PTDY and minimum en route leave allowances.
  • DAF Form 988: Primary Leave Request/Authorization.
  • AF Form 972: For funded emergency leave travel.
  • DD Form 1610: For certain TDY/PTDY authorizations.
  • Joint Travel Regulations (JTR): Governs travel allowances and distance computations.
  • DAFI 36-3003: Full Military Leave Program instruction (download from e-Publishing).

For the most current policy, visit the official Air Force e-Publishing website (www.e-publishing.af.mil) and search for DAFI 36-3003 or AF Form 985. Consult your local FSO, MPS, or chain of command for scenario-specific advice, as individual circumstances (e.g., CONUS vs. OCONUS, emergency vs. ordinary leave) can affect processing.

Important Disclaimer: This article provides general information based on publicly available Department of the Air Force guidance as of 2026. Policies can change. Always refer to the latest official publications and seek guidance from your servicing Financial Services Office or Military Personnel Section for personalized assistance. Incorrect reporting can affect pay and leave balances.

Download your copy of AF Form 985 today and ensure your travel and leave records stay accurate.

Keywords: AF Form 985, Report of Travel Time Leave JUMPS, Air Force leave form, DAFI 36-3003, PCS en route leave, Air Force travel time reporting, military leave JUMPS.