I have a quick question. I ship out for Army BCT 20091110 at Fort Benning. I understand I won't be able to come home for Thanksgiving, that's not to big of a problem. What I don't understand is Christmas Exodus..

As far as I know, we get roughly 14 days off for Christmas, also know as Christmas Exodus. I really don't want to take the time off, especially it being during Basic, but I really want to be with my family on Christmas. So what happens after AIT if I do take Christmas Exodus? I'm already going to be in the hole for leave so I probably won't be able to come home after AIT right? If not, how do I get my stuff, like my tv, laptop, clothes, etc to my duty station? And if I do get to come home for Christmas Exodus and home for leave after AIT, how long do I have to wait before I can come home again?

Try here,

http://forums.military.com/eve.../a/cfrm/f/6801982206

14 day's off for Christmas? That's a first...I guess I should have joined the Army.

Seriously,that's a stretch, there's no way that will happen.You are in the military, it's not some cushy 9-5 civilian job!

quote:

Originally posted by Bergy46:
14 day's off for Christmas? That's a first...I guess I should have joined the Army.

Seriously,that's a stretch, there's no way that will happen.You are in the military, it's not some cushy civilian 9-5 civilian job!

You get em Bergy! I didn't want to ruin his/her day. Must be the new Army cause none of that happened when I was in.

quote:

Army BCT 20091110

I enlisted 55 years ago on the same date. We got a long lunch period, about two hours, on December 25th 1954.

All of the cadre split the duty so that 1/2 got the the morning off and the other half got the afternoon off.

Guess who paid the price for the cadre to only having a half day off on Christmas.

I think we had about four hours of close-order drill in the half-step both morning and the afternoon. They said if they could only get a half day off we could half-step the whole day.

Bergy and Mikey, November 10th is be nice to the marines day. It's their birthday. You can also be nice to me that day, it's my birthday too.

550 --- Ima thinkin' that someone's been tellin' ya fairy tales... Bergy46 and Old Army Love got it correct.

... unless of course there has been one of those "time-warp" things and we are back in the 1970's with the Army's Recruiting motto of: "Todays Army Wants To Join YOU!" { just envision Mr. Rogers and his "neighbors" with O.D. Greens}... yep, then maybe you can get 14 days off during Christmas...

I know you all have been retired like 40 years or so, lol, just kidding. The Army does now do 14 days for Christmas - my son, a 2LT is heading to Jackson for training and will not have classes for those two weeks - it's true!

BOY! All you guys ARE OLD! While I was at Ft. Lee being reclassed we had 14 days for Christmas and that was in the 80's. Now I can't tell you if it was a freebe or if I just was in the hole, all I know is I didn't want to stay there and do details all Christmas.

quote:

Originally posted by 22399550:
I have a quick question. I ship out for Army BCT 20091110 at Fort Benning. I understand I won't be able to come home for Thanksgiving, that's not to big of a problem. What I don't understand is Christmas Exodus..

As far as I know, we get roughly 14 days off for Christmas, also know as Christmas Exodus. I really don't want to take the time off, especially it being during Basic, but I really want to be with my family on Christmas. So what happens after AIT if I do take Christmas Exodus? I'm already going to be in the hole for leave so I probably won't be able to come home after AIT right? If not, how do I get my stuff, like my tv, laptop, clothes, etc to my duty station? And if I do get to come home for Christmas Exodus and home for leave after AIT, how long do I have to wait before I can come home again?

After AIT, you may be given some "Delay Enroute" leave time, if your next duty station is a long way off. You may be able to travel home, if home is on the way. If home is in the opposite direction - oh well! Most guys shipped to their PCS Duty Station, bought stuff there through the PX, then either shipped it home, or sold it to their buddies the next time they PCS'd. You may be billeted in a place that doesn't have room for all that stuff - -

Wow bro, that was a long time ago! Things have changed since. Cell phones are allowed, yelling is way down! It's alot easier that it use to be, although sometimes I wish it wasn't.

Sounds something like the Boy Scouts. 1 U.S. Drill Sergeant. 1968.

I hear they even do PT in sneakers and shorts instead of boots and fatigues?

quote:

Originally posted by YankeeeSgt:
I hear they even do PT in sneakers and shorts instead of boots and fatigues?

IMO, the Army went to shcit in the late 70's. Glad I retired cause I'd of been in trouble me thinks.

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by YankeeeSgt:
I hear they even do PT in sneakers and shorts instead of boots and fatigues?


IMO, the Army went to shcit in the late 70's. Glad I retired cause I'd of been in trouble me thinks

-----------------------------------------------
Mikey
I am under the Imprssiom they don't even have
"BAYONET" drill anymore.
Too much blood an guts for dese guy's.

quote:

Originally posted by 22399550:
I have a quick question. I ship out for Army BCT 20091110 at Fort Benning. I understand I won't be able to come home for Thanksgiving, that's not to big of a problem. What I don't understand is Christmas Exodus..

As far as I know, we get roughly 14 days off for Christmas, also know as Christmas Exodus. I really don't want to take the time off, especially it being during Basic, but I really want to be with my family on Christmas. So what happens after AIT if I do take Christmas Exodus? I'm already going to be in the hole for leave so I probably won't be able to come home after AIT right? If not, how do I get my stuff, like my tv, laptop, clothes, etc to my duty station? And if I do get to come home for Christmas Exodus and home for leave after AIT, how long do I have to wait before I can come home again?

Well --- #550 is gone after one post... drat! I hate it when people post a question on these Boards and then ---sswooosssh gone...

Just in case #550 is still alive and reads this: I and a couple of the others made a boo-boo. { It pains me to admit that I could actually make a mistake, but once-in-awhile it happens. }

After reading the post by "Retired Career Counselor"... I googled "Army Basic Training" and the Wiki listing came up. Sure enough... the Army closes down Basic Training for 2 weeks at Christmas Time. It is called "Christmas Exodus" because almost everyone goes home...

I had no idea there was such a practice. I started out in a different Branch, and I got off "the bus" in May... many moons ago.

The thought of starting Basic Training, and then permitting guys to go home...who have not completed their training, and not earned a uniform...many of which don't have enough money to make a phone call- let alone buy a plane/bus ticket to their Home-of-Record, and then expect that they will return to Basic Training,,, phew... just seems like a lot of work for the M.P.s and the JAG folks. IMO.

Don't get me wrong -- I'm not a J.W. nor am I Jewish... I actually like Christmas Eve and Christmas. Hope it works for those folks. Probably many of the Cadre and civvie employees at the Army Training centers like the deal.