It's a wonderful benefit worth just about anything to get. I worked hard in my AF career to qualify for it. An example of its value, every single airline pilot in my unit is or will soon be on mil leave. Yes I avoided a lot of 1st year pay which was the plan. I'm on my second airline, I had to start over again. Luckily I was blessed to still have the opportunity to fly in the military. Many of us on mil leave are just trying to get to a AD retirement. Most of us will return, some will not. They just can't be away from mama for than a night or two.