Army Basic during Christmas Exodus. What happens?

[RCA1588]

Hey everyone! My name is Russell and I just enlisted in the US Army reserve as a 68w m6. I am scheduled to report for basic November 16 at Fort Jackson South Carolina. Ironically, after I report, the following week is Thanksgiving. Then toward the end of basic training, here comes Christmas. My recruiter isn't being very clear on what is going on. I am not sure whether or not it's not written in stone what is going to happen, or whether she doesn't know. I am scheduled to be at Fort Jackson for 12 weeks. This may indirectly tell me what is going to happen. If anyone knows what is going on and how the process of leaving happens, I will be incredibly thankful. Thanks.

[DeeDee]

Hi Russell, welcome aboard and congrats on your enlistment.
Here we go - I called my son's Navy recruiter to connect me to an Army recruiter who could tell me how it works for Christmas Exodus. :)
1. There is no time off for Thanksgiving
2. Christmas Exodus - training stops for those 2 weeks (approx 22 Dec - 2 Jan) you are given the opportunity to go home for that time. You are charged leave, you obviously won't have accrued enough leave time by then to cover it all so you will end up owing leave time if you choose to go home. If you choose to stay at boot camp during the exodus your training does stop and you will do miscellaneous duties as assigned. When the exodus is over your training resumes where it left off. Which means your 12 weeks will actually be a bit longer due to that 2 week break.

Hope this helps
DeeDee

[Doc_Stevens]

I found myself in a similar circumstance (albeit 30+ years ago). I graduated boot and of all things, my report date for Hospital Corps School was the day before Thanksgiving. Just another day to them. Still had a week or so to class up, so was assigned "other duties" and ate my turkey and the fixings at the hospital cafeteria.

The school did close/shut down/minimal mode during the Christmas holidays. Those that chose to, could take leave and we were allowed to go into a negative balance. I figured it wouldn't have been too bad, since I was followed A School with Field Med and a year in Japan, I could build up the balance again.

It did extend the overall length of time I had at A-School, but that didn't matter to me. I was having way too much fun learning new things and looking forward to things to come.

[DominaMedicus]

The answers here apply to "A" school and then to Army, what about basic at RTC? what if the Christmas holidays fall in the middle or near end of training??
Please and thank you

[8404]

Domina;

RTC training continues and liberty is generally only granted for 'graduating' Sailors.

"Q. How much liberty does my recruit get over the weekend? Generally, graduating Sailors will be granted daytime, off-base liberty. Recruits will need to report back to their barracks each night at a designated time. Please drop your recruit off at Recruit Training Command with enough time for them to make it back to their ship."
Source:

RULES ON LIBERTY (http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/rtcgl/rules_liberty.asp)

FAQS FOR FAMILIES/FRIENDS (http://www1.netc.navy.mil/nstc/rtcgl/faq_family.asp)