I wish I had my original TOS when it was 42 days albeit including weekends if you rleave ran over a weekend. This was six weeks annual leave at a time when civvies worked a 48 hour week and did not get every other Saturday and every Wednesday afternoon off and only got two weeks leave.
IIRC there was never a suggestion that leave was a privilege.
What is quite obvious is that civilian working hours have shrunk to less than an average serviceman's but their holiday time has expanded to the same. Many civilians also get an annual bonus equivalent to one month's pay.
Mmmm.