What is an authorized absence from duty for a short time called?

An authorized absence from duty for a short period is called a pass period. This term specifically refers to a situation where a service member is given permission to be absent from their duty station temporarily, without it being classified as formal leave, which typically requires a formal request and may involve various types of leave such as annual, sick, or emergency leave.

Pass periods usually grant service members the flexibility to take brief breaks from their duties, often recognized as a benefit for managing work-life balance. They are generally less formal and involve a shorter duration compared to other types of leave. This makes the term quite distinct, as it applies to short absences rather than the longer or more formalized absence that might be associated with other options like leave or emergency leave.