Lump-Sum Leave Settlement for Military Member

An Air Force brigadier general, Dean of the Faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado, requested a lump-sum leave settlement for 60 days' accrued leave, incident to his retirement from active duty, which was approved by the Air Force. An advance decision was requested from GAO by the Accounting and Finance Director of the Air Force Academy as to the propriety of the payment. The aspect under dispute is whether the general is also entitled to the additional $250 per month authorized for Air Force Academy professors with over 36 years' service. Because the monthly payment is an element of neither rank nor longevity, but is related to duty assignment, it does not constitute "basic pay" and cannot be authorized as a component of accrued leave.