What type of leave is typically referred to as "in the hole" in the context of accrued leave?

The term "in the hole" typically refers to negative leave, which is leave that has been taken but not yet accrued. This means that the service member has taken more leave than they have earned up to that point, resulting in a negative balance of leave days. When leave is taken in advance of actually earning it, it creates a situation where the individual is said to be "in the hole" because they have a debt of leave that needs to be reconciled either by future accrual or repayment in some form. Understanding this concept is crucial for managing leave balances and ensuring compliance with service regulations regarding leave use and accrual.

While earned leave refers to leave that has been accumulated based on time served, excess leave denotes leave taken beyond what is earned for a specific period. Advanced leave, on the other hand, is more directly correlated with permission granted to take leave before it has been officially accrued but does not typically carry the same negative connotation as "in the hole." Thus, negative leave is the most accurate term for this situation.