Does Army Boot Camp Let You Leave For Christmas?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The Army is the only branch of the military that honors the Christmas Exodus break for all recruits who are in basic training and AIT. Basically,

the Army shuts down all of its training schools during exodus to allow their drill sergeants and instructors to have a break at Christmas.

What happens if you are in boot camp on Christmas?

There is no training scheduled for Thanksgiving or Christmas day. Religious services for Christmas, but for Thanksgiving, they have a holiday meal, and depending on the SDI,

the recruits may watch a movie or be on square away time pretty much the whole day

.

How long is Christmas leave in basic training?

The Army shuts down its Training operations for a

10 day (or so)

period at Christmas. The primary reason for “Exodus” is so Drill Sergeants and Basic Training Staff members can spend Christmas with their families. So this results in a break for basic training recruits also.

Can you leave basic training for holidays?


During the two weeks around Christmas time, the Army shuts down basic training and AIT schools

. Other branches do not allow recruits to have leave or liberty.

Do Army recruits go home for Christmas?


The Army is the only branch of the military that honors the Christmas Exodus break for all recruits who are in basic training and AIT

. Basically, the Army shuts down all of its training schools during exodus to allow their drill sergeants and instructors to have a break at Christmas.

Do soldiers in AIT come home for Christmas?


yes you do get to go home for Christmas during AIT

. You will get 10 to 14 days of leave. You will be charged this leave which will put you in the whole days when you graduate. This means you will be able to take less days after your graduate from AIT.

How long is Christmas block leave?

What is Holiday Block Leave? HBL, unique to Initial Military Training, marks the time when students and trainees depart schools and training centers in mid-December for the

two-week

holiday.

Do you get to come home during basic training?


It’s a privilege that has to be earned

. Because calling home is an earned privilege (for your group) and is different for everyone depending on how your basic training unit performs, you may get only one phone call during your entire time at basic, or you may get as many as eight or 10 chances to call home.

How much time is between basic and AIT?

Advanced Individual Training(AIT) ranges from

4 to 52 weeks

depending on a Soldier’s MOS. After graduating from basic training, Soldiers will go to AIT where they will complete Phase IV and Phase V before joining their unit.

Do soldiers go home for holidays?


Soldiers don’t get to travel home in the middle of their training cycle during the rest of the year

, he noted. On Thanksgiving, they’re given one day off, but that’s not time enough to travel home for most.

Is there a break between basic training and AIT?


No. You’ll be given a few days to travel between your Basic Training location and Advanced Training location, but this isn’t considered an official break

. If you’ll be attending One Station Unit Training, you won’t receive travel time because your Basic Training and AIT will be held on the same base.

Does the military get Veterans Day off?

Is Veterans Day a federal holiday? Veterans Day is a federal holiday, a bank holiday and, in most states, a state holiday. That means that

federal employees, including military members, are typically given the day off

and, in most states, state workers are as well.

Do you get holidays in the Army?

You’ll also get

38 days leave a year (including bank holidays)

, which is more than most civilian jobs. If you are deployed on operations, you’re normally away for six months, but you’ll get extra time off when you get back on top of your annual leave.

Do you get Sundays off in basic training?

How much time off do you get after basic training?

During your training, you will earn paid time off at the rate of

2.5 days a month

. You can use your earned time to take leave prior to reporting to your first duty station. This has to be approved, and the most common length is 10 days. The Army also has a program called Hometown Recruiter Assistance Program (HRAP).

Can you send care packages in basic training?

That’s why most service branches discourage care packages for recruits in boot camp. In fact, receiving an unauthorized care package may result in a punishment from the drill instructor for their entire unit. So,

it’s better to wait until your recruit finishes basic before you send any packages

.

Is Navy boot camp harder than Army?

Navy. The Navy calls this Boot Camp. It is

a bit shorter than the Army’s Basic Combat Training

, at 8 weeks. You progress through: basic conditioning – confidence course – team-building week – hands-on training.

Can you go home during AIT?

Generally,

the only leave you’ll be able to take in AIT will be Emergency Leave

. Although, if your AIT is scheduled to go through the Christmas/New Years holiday, you will most likely be granted what is called “Block Leave”. No, you will earn 4 days of leave time but you will not be able to use it during AIT.

How long is Army Christmas exodus?

Originally Answered: Can you go home for Christmas during basic training? Yes, they have what is called Christmas Exodus during basic. I am not a fan of it because the Privates have to take leave and it puts them

14 days

of leave in the hole before they even start their career.

What holidays do the military get off?

  • New Year’s Day — Saturday, Jan. …
  • Martin Luther King Jr Day — Monday, Jan. …
  • Presidents’ Day — Monday, Feb. …
  • Memorial Day — Monday, May 30, 2022.
  • Juneteenth — Sunday, June 19, 2022, but observed Monday, June 20.
  • Independence Day — Monday, July 4, 2022.
  • Labor Day — Monday, Sept.

Do you keep your phone in AIT?

Soldiers in AIT should bring their military-issued clothing, shaving and hygiene materials, towels and washcloths, and two sets of casual civilian clothing.

Personal computers, tablets, cell phones and other electronic devices are authorized for use once a Soldier reaches Tier 1 status

.

Does the Army pay for holiday block leave?

It will take both Soldier discipline and engaged leaders to ensure HBL is a success this year. Q8: WILL THE ARMY PAY FOR TRAINEES AND SOLDIERS TO TRAVEL HOME FOR THE HOLIDAY BLOCK LEAVE SEASON? A8.

Soldiers pay for their own travel expenses when opting to go on Holiday Block Leave.

Can the army deny block leave?


The Command cannot stop you from formally requesting leave

. If you request leave and it is denied, ensure you keep the leave request form showing it was denied for your records.

Do Army soldiers have to pay for leave?

Members of the Reserve and National Guard are not charged military leave for non-duty days (i.e., weekends and holidays) that occur within the period of military service. Salary Payments –

Employees on military leave under 5 U.S.C. 6323 (a) are entitled to retain both their military and Federal civilian pay

.

Are phones allowed in boot camp?

Are cell phones allowed in Basic Training?

There are no cell phones allowed in Basic Training

. This is a consistent rule for all of the military branches: Do not expect your service member to be able to call you, text you, or receive your messages when they are in Basic Training.

Do Army recruits get their phones?

Evolving Policies for Communications From Basic Military Training. One of the reasons the military is so successful is their willingness to take full advantage of new technology. Most adult members of our society carry a cell phone these days, and

post-basic military recruits are generally no exception

.

What is a scripted call from boot camp?

The First Phone Call

Don’t be offended when your recruit calls you for the first time and isn’t able to chat. The recruit is given a scripted response: “

I have arrived safely at MCRD Parris Island or MCRD San Diego.

Maria Kunar
Author
Maria Kunar
Maria is a cultural enthusiast and expert on holiday traditions. With a focus on the cultural significance of celebrations, Maria has written several blogs on the history of holidays and has been featured in various cultural publications. Maria's knowledge of traditions will help you appreciate the meaning behind celebrations.