This year FLU is kicking butt. Vaccine last two years was deemed ineffective. I keep getting the flu shot every year. My wife, who is a Dr. Does not get the flu shot. She also won't let my kids get the flu shot. She may reconsider when she is over 60, but for now she feels the shot is so ineffective it's not worth subjecting your immune system to the other stuff in the vaccine. I got (always get it) the flu shot, and still got the flu. She did not get the flu shot and thus far has not.

On Military leave: It is what it is. Some units have commitments 24/7 weather it's alert or real-time Ops in surv/recon it has to be done, and typically the junior lieutenants get the call.