An employee shall not be entitled to a leave of absence as a matter of right except for service in the recognized military service or education for which the employee is eligible because of military service or for pregnancy, childbirth or the recovery therefrom. Upon receipt of a request for leave of absence for any other reason signed by the employee and stating with particularity the reason for the leave, the appointing power may either approve or disapprove the request. The appointing power shall obtain the approval of the Department prior to the effective date of the leave of absence if the request for leave of absence is for service in a foreign county in a technical cooperation program.