(a) Under regulations prescribed, an accused who has been sentenced by a court-martial may be required to take leave pending completion of action under this section if the sentence, as approved under § 13A-902 of this subtitle, includes an unsuspended dismissal or an unsuspended dishonorable or bad-conduct discharge.

(b) The accused may be required to begin such leave on the date on which the sentence is approved under § 13A-902 of this subtitle or at any time after such date, and such leave may be continued until the date on which action under this section is completed or may be terminated at any earlier time.