Battle Assembly on a Holiday?

2015-05-10T08:21:09-04:00

How do you feel about Battle Assembly on a Holiday. In my experience I find scheduling Battle Assembly on a Holiday bad planning. I understand that some Holidays are unavoidable due to time and resources. What are your thoughts? Have you been to Battle Assembly on a national holiday? Was it avoidable?

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 10 at 2015 8:29 AM

2015-05-10T08:29:12-04:00

Holiday is a fluid concept.

Are we talking Federal Holiday? Are we talking Religious Holiday? Are we talking about some of the other Holidays like Mother's or Father's day?

Thursday, January 1 - New Year’s Day
Monday, January 19 - Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, February 16*- Washington’s Birthday (President's day)
Monday, May 25 - Memorial Day
Saturday, July 4 - Independence Day
Monday, September 7- Labor Day
Monday, October 12 - Columbus Day
Wednesday, November 11 - Veterans Day
Thursday, November 26 - Thanksgiving Day
Friday, December 25 - Christmas Day

Response by MAJ Anthony DeStefano made May 10 at 2015 8:49 AM

2015-05-10T08:49:13-04:00

As a former National Guard company commander my focus was on retention...you work very very hard to recruit new members but it is imperative that you retain those that you already have and avoid the revolving door syndrome... which breaks up cohesiveness, especially in a reserve component outfit...so my my thoughts are NO Keep the spouse and kids happy about the SM being in the your unit and you will retain far more personnel through good planning. AT's can be tough to avoid sometimes but holidays on normal drills are avoidable for the most part as planners.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 10 at 2015 9:08 AM

2015-05-10T09:08:28-04:00

We used to do one on Memorial Day to cover all the parades and events we were asked to support. Didn't agree with it as this is our holiday but at least troops were paid for their time.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 9:09 AM

2015-05-10T09:09:34-04:00

Not so much a "holiday", but the Super Bowl. In my area, a lot of us are huge football fans and the Super Bowl is a holiday to us.
Low and behold, drill is ALWAYS on Super Sunday! Why? Especially if we live in AZ, where we have hosted 2 Super Bowls in recent years, why wouldn't you pick any other weekend? Not to mention, the soldiers just don't want to be there when they know a party is waiting for them at home, or when they are off.

Response by MAJ Haris Balcinovic made May 10 at 2015 9:40 AM

2015-05-10T09:40:32-04:00

Poor planning - if your operations / training puts it on the schedule and doesn't vet it during YTB there's no excuse for it. Period.
I've been a part of YTB at company and BN level and we go as far as to avoid times that are big local events (race day, college football, etc.) Partly because you want to let your soldiers and their families spend that time together, and partly to avoid traveling during busy weekends - for safety if nothing else.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 9:53 AM

2015-05-10T09:53:43-04:00

I don't really know what a Battle Assembly is, MSG. But in my opinion, any training that isn't absolutely a necessity or emergency, can wait when it comes to holidays.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made May 10 at 2015 10:04 AM

2015-05-10T10:04:10-04:00

Meh. I work in a hospital. We are a 24/7 operation. Outside of the Admin folks, we almost never get 4 day weekends. Working on holidays is nothing new to us. I've been on duty for more than my share of holidays.

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made May 10 at 2015 10:04 AM

2015-05-10T10:04:57-04:00

I think we should always plan ahead, Holiday is the time to relax with family.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 12:12 PM

2015-05-10T12:12:20-04:00

Generally speaking, holidays should be (and usually are) avoided when planning drill weekends. That being said, there are two important considerations that factor into this:

1. Availability of resources - Sometimes the resources are only available on a holiday. This can include ranges, equipment borrowed from another unit, etc. In that case, you may just have to suck it up and drive on.

2. Local prominence of said holiday - Different parts of the country celebrate different holidays, and if you're not in line with the majority in your area, you may find yourself drilling on a holiday. For example, a muslim may have to drill during Eid, simply because that one isn't celebrated by enough of the unit to be a factor in planning. Similarly, hunting is a very big deal here in Wyoming, so almost all of our units plan enough MUTA-5s and -6s to ensure they can skip drill entirely in October. For this state, the start of hunting season is one of the most important holidays there is.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 12:18 PM

2015-05-10T12:18:06-04:00

In Minnesota, the recurring problem is November. Typically we need to schedule SRP in order to administer flu shots. But Deer Hunting Opener is on the weekend typically scheduled for Nov BA. Not a lot of room to maneuver, since Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving occupy two of the other weekends.

SO chronically we are left with reduced attendance on a BA we are attempting to get 100% on Flu shots prior to the 1 DEC deadline.
It is a recurring leadership conundrum, one easily defeated by putting NOV BA in the last weekend in OCT - also a win because the weather is better for a make up APFT.
But people are fixated on traditional scheduling, so we do the same thing year after year.
Meh.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 12:45 PM

2015-05-10T12:45:01-04:00

MSG B,
As stated previously, the units mission dictates. If it can be prevented by training schedule planning by the Training NCO, then sure request a unit RST. The goal is to get the job done and at the same time keeping soldiers from unnecessary moral declination. Retention is a must.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 1:26 PM

2015-05-10T13:26:19-04:00

It happens. Mainly due to resources at reserve centers for those is USAR. We have multiple units occupying same center. There simply isn't enough room for everyone, so a couple of units always have to drill on Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc. It's just the nature of being in the reserve.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 10 at 2015 1:42 PM

2015-05-10T13:42:14-04:00

I had a leader who wanted to work late until 2100 Monday through Friday and eventually he was asking us to come in on Saturday and Sunday. This man was an absolute fool, and I declined to work on the weekends. He asked and I said, no. There are certain types of Soldiers who work on the weekend such as SD, CQ, cooks, and MPs. I don't understand why doing regular M through F work would be okay to a commander. This is way our normal work week is M though F. The holidays are for families and personal time.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 2:08 PM

2015-05-10T14:08:50-04:00

I agree. We miss enough time with family as it is. If it can be avoided, it should be

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 3:14 PM

2015-05-10T15:14:30-04:00

I've drilled on mother's and father's day and once on a memorial day, I absolutely agree that it is poor planning on the staff/commander. If holidays/remembrances/super bowl can be avoided I believe they should be. However, we signed a contract and committed to do our time and no where in the contract were holidays excluded. Sometimes we just have to suck it up and do our duty.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 4:43 PM

2015-05-10T16:43:30-04:00

I've never had to drill on a holiday, but I have drilled on other important dates. Last drill was on the opener of fishing. Biggest day all year after deer season and Christmas, and for some guys, every Sunday football game.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 8:31 PM

2015-05-10T20:31:43-04:00

I'm going to reiterate what many people have already said on the subject. In most cases this is simply poor planning. The only reason this should occur is if it is unavoidable. The most likely scenario driving this would be range availability. As I'm sure you're well aware weapons qualification is a significant event for the reserve component, especially if you have a multitude of weapon systems like I do.

With that being said, I can remember having IDT weekends and annual training that fell on holidays as well. We had a MUTA 8 on Halloween this year because it was the only time we had available to conduct machine gun qualification ranges before Annual Training. A lot of parents missed out on trick-or-treating with their children, which caused some heartache. However at the end of the day mission still comes first.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 10:04 PM

2015-05-10T22:04:29-04:00

Most of the time, it can be avoided, with one exception: Memorial Day. Traditionaly we are assigned a parade. May fall on the actual holiday or not. It is our responsibility to carry that torch.

On the other hand, I can't remember the last mothers day we haven't had off. CTARNG is good making sure we dont have anything on mothers day.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 10:42 PM

2015-05-10T22:42:28-04:00

BA on a holiday is always a bad idea. It brings down troop morale and it "ruins" your FTS "long" weekend.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 11:05 PM

2015-05-10T23:05:07-04:00

It can be prevented. There should be no reason you, absolutely, have to train on a holiday.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2015 11:48 PM

2015-05-10T23:48:11-04:00

I vowed that when I took command we would not have duty on holidays or events that people typically spend with family. To me there is no normally scheduled training event that is so important as to trump family time. Any excuse about range availability boils down to poor planning. I refuse to make that excuse to my troops and have held up to it. I can't control what's above me but I've made my opinion known even if it risked making me sound like I wasn't being a good follower but I became a leader in order to change culture that needs people who stand up for the troops.

Response by SSG John Jensen made May 11 at 2015 1:19 AM

2015-05-11T01:19:17-04:00

the holiday that got everybody upset was on those family holidays - Mother's day & Father's day. Any stuff on day off holiday weekends were usually parade duty which was usually paid or make-up.
there was a time a bn volunteered for a slot in NTC when an active unit pulled out, but when everybody looked at a calendar and saw that it was covering Thanksgiving, no one would volunteer (they asked me) and the bn went short, and as such it wasn't an NTC rotation but just an Annual Trng

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made May 11 at 2015 10:45 AM

2015-05-11T10:45:38-04:00

We fight wars during holidays. Battle of the Bulge over Christmas and New Years. Okinawa we landed on Easter just to name a couple. A drill over a holiday or two is not out of the question.

While I wouldn't look to hurt people on holidays, there are a lot of holidays/holiday weekends. I think some is unavoidable. We also don't want to get too predictable with our enemies that we only drill in certain ways or certain times.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2015 1:16 PM

2015-05-11T13:16:30-04:00

Just got done performing BTA over this past weekend, which was Mothers Day, because my Brigade moved our May dates. Momma wasnt happy. And next year, our February BTA was scrubbed due to Valentines Day and Super Bowl, but having BTA over Fathers Day next year didnt even get an argument against. Cakes and Pie.

Response by SSG Jackie Todd made May 11 at 2015 8:31 PM

2015-05-11T20:31:38-04:00

I have seen it. If it is for training it is completely avoidable. Operations needs to pay more attention to detail. The reason why I think it is a huge mistake is because of the impact the military already has on family life. I lost a marriage due to my service. A lot of the damage would have been prevented by better planning on the units part. Dont get me wrong. My PTSD and depression were a huge part of it too, but they training g planning sometimes put undue strain on something that might have been salvageable otherwise. She felt like I was choosing the uniform over her. My only other option would have been AWOL. Which is not even an option for me.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 9:35 PM

2015-05-13T21:35:08-04:00

I command an Army band. We work on many national holidays. A former Chief, Army Music once said (and I paraphrase) "if you're an Army band and you're not working on Memorial Day, the Fourth of July or Veterans' Day you're wrong".

Response by CW2(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 8:57 AM

2015-05-14T08:57:10-04:00

Agreed. Poor planning, and lack of compassion to the family's of the Soldiers. Consideration of family's during holidays is very important to the moral of the Soldier, the Soldiers family, and the Unit.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 12:13 PM

2015-05-14T12:13:25-04:00

What's "battle assembly?" You mean drill weekend? My unit works drill around holidays, never had to muster on one.

Response by SGT Curtis Earl made May 14 at 2015 12:15 PM

2015-05-14T12:15:41-04:00

I'm a bandsmen, sarge, we *always* drill on holidays. July 4, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Veteran's day. A huge part of our mission is supporting local and national events and ceremonies. We don't mind though. Our commander does work to avoid the Super Bowl and big college football events though.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 1:49 PM

2015-05-14T13:49:59-04:00

I am not familiar with the term "Battle Assembly", though have been recalled for both real world and field training on holidays. I see this as part of the job rather it is avoidable or not. I volunteered for this job, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Not just on "weekdays" or "non-holidays".

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 9:15 PM

2015-05-23T21:15:54-04:00

Working a holiday is just a part of life in general. If you are working a holiday, participating in quality training for the preparation of a deployment or something then drive on. If you plan a BA and sit around the R/C then shame on the Commander and Staff for being lazy and not thinking about the soldiers.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2015 3:57 AM

2015-08-05T03:57:26-04:00

I think it is wrong, and does not make any sense: how are you supposed to get anything accomplished when everyone your reserve unit is relying on is on a 96? My unit tried to schedule a rifle range over Easter... then they realized range personnel wouldn't be there. Then they rescheduled it over Labor Day... same thing- yea, that wasn't a good year.

Response by LTC John Mohor made Aug 17 at 2015 11:19 PM

2015-08-17T23:19:59-04:00

Unless your unit is providing support to a Veterans Day or Memorial Day Celebration having a BA on a Holiday is avery bad idea! It's already a balancing act between family, civilian job and Reserve job. What kind of morale in your unit are you going to have scheduling BA on a Holiday. I learned early don't even think of scheduling BA on Mother's Day too!

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Aug 18 at 2015 9:50 PM

2015-08-18T21:50:53-04:00

Back when I was associated with the USAR we did not. We liked to have our civilian Techs attend and the double time and a half to have them work a Holiday would be frowned on. Now days I think they are all required to be in the Reserve, so might not be such a problem.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Aug 18 at 2015 10:14 PM

2015-08-18T22:14:58-04:00

MSG Brian Breaker I have been in all the positions that do the planning up to BDE level. The YTC is supposed to be planned at least one year in advance and we have had multiple people of different faith backgrounds review the training calendar for holiday, major National events and religious conflicts.
If the BA falls on a federal holiday, IMO it is bad planning, unless the unit is in a mobilization year.

Response by CW4 Russ Hamilton (Ret) made Aug 19 at 2015 12:28 AM

2015-08-19T00:28:01-04:00

What CPT Balcinovic said. That should never happen.

Response by MAJ Anthony Henderson made Aug 19 at 2015 9:01 AM

2015-08-19T09:01:49-04:00

They can be avoided if the schedule is planned correctly. When I was a Company Commander we even planned around college football games to prevent traffic problems. The only problem that we had with holidays were during Annual Training. But if the resources for training are only available during the time in which there is a holiday, training comes first. #TrainAsYouFight!!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2015 2:11 PM

2015-08-19T14:11:47-04:00

I have to agree with all of the other comments. If it's not vetted during the YTB then it's terrible planning. Even Father's and Mother's Days need to be considered. If I didn't RST once in a while, I would never have spent Fathers Day with my kids.

Response by CSM Jennifer Dehorty made Aug 19 at 2015 6:58 PM

2015-08-19T18:58:14-04:00

One command I was at, we did have BTA on Veterans Day. We also had an Army Band, so most of that assembly was spent on the parade and like events. And as a side note, this was in Birmingham, AL. In November, there was no good time for drill. NASCAR and Alabama and Auburn football.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2015 7:03 PM

2015-08-19T19:03:09-04:00

We usually don't have that problem but we ALWAYS have BA during the Superbowl!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 2:57 PM

2015-08-26T14:57:07-04:00

My unit conducted Annual Training last year from 1-14 July... Happy Independence Day right?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 26 at 2015 8:25 PM

2015-08-26T20:25:46-04:00

They sure know how to kill morale.

Response by COL Randy Alicea made Aug 26 at 2015 8:30 PM

2015-08-26T20:30:53-04:00

Bad planning and trouble leadership! I my opinion and observations, its done most of the time by mistake or the leadership was no involved in the YTC/YTG, leaving it too the AGRs.

Response by LCDR Jeffery Dixon made Aug 27 at 2015 1:27 PM

2015-08-27T13:27:09-04:00

Let's ask our enemies if they mind not attacking us on our National Holidays.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 3 at 2015 7:59 PM

2015-09-03T19:59:29-04:00

I can't say that I have spent BA on a holiday, but I can tell you that I spent Super Bowl 2007 training Soldiers. So I missed the pre game an most of the first half. I can tell you after that I have pulled every calendar there can be had an I don't schedule BA on any holiday Federal or other wise. Now I have lost lots of holidays due to Annual Trainings over the years. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet do to others scheduling the training.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Sep 4 at 2015 7:59 PM

2015-09-04T19:59:40-04:00

There is "smart" and then there is "Army smart".

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 25 at 2015 7:47 PM

2015-10-25T19:47:46-04:00

I have a question. Are they toxic leaders?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 4 at 2016 9:08 AM

2016-01-04T09:08:33-05:00

I've been in the reserves since 2004 and I have never had drill on a holiday.

Response by CW3 Carson Raker made Jan 10 at 2016 11:27 AM

2016-01-10T11:27:09-05:00

Never have after 10+ years in the Reserves, the closest thing is Super Bowl Sunday...LOL...

Response by MSG Alfred Aguilar made Jan 11 at 2016 2:20 AM

2016-01-11T02:20:15-05:00

Only the Super Bowl....

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 31 at 2016 3:05 PM

2016-03-31T15:05:49-04:00

All the units I have ever been in have avoided holiday weekends. It should be done only in an emergency (which normally would put you an another status than regular IDT weedend)

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 26 at 2017 7:59 PM

2017-01-26T19:59:03-05:00

I have missed every anniversary and my oldest daughters birthday for years. I have been gone on holidays and did what was asked of me. There are those out there that do more then us. We are here to train to standard not time. Everyone that signs up knows what they are getting into.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Dec 31 at 2017 9:22 AM

2017-12-31T09:22:07-05:00

War does not take a holiday ...
“There’s your sign!” As Jeff Foxworthy
the Comedic entertainer would say after describing a comic sit-rep..

So why should a drill? I know it would not be fun to go on drill while your family is engage in going to the beach (picnic)
While you’re at drill.. I know that on certain holidays various sections stand down or have skeleton crews working..
I know that the section I was assigned to
(Base Food Service). Was going full force and then some over the holiday.. Our base had an Open house atmosphere that day and our DF was no exception.. we had a lot of cold trays out along with hot easy fun food; burgers, Hot dogs, ect.,.
And we welcomed Airmen(all of them; Officer too!).. So There need be no down day for Reserve/Guard Units.. regardless of service ...

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Dec 31 at 2017 10:29 AM

2017-12-31T10:29:15-05:00

Captain(vts); I joined the AF Reserve when 17 and was always under the impression
“War doesn’t take a holiday!” ... Our base had open houses a lot to boost recruiting... everybody was pushed into “recruiting mode”... and us Airmen were given a mini class on Recruiting points..
for some reason Our Base Food Service was left out of being notified(a clerical error I was assured). I still found out about it.. and went and took some good notes..
We had some good but older equipment in our Food Service facility. I made sure it was really spiffy.. as did my supervisors..
We had a really good crew .. even the few slackers we had(almost very Facility has one or more). Were on top of things...
we did many things the old fashioned way
(Elbow exercize, manual labor) . I (we) recruited 4 new Prospectives to join the Reserves .. they were students at a community college.. one of our Senior NCOs laid out for them how the Reserve and their Civilian job can work together to
Make it copesetic to do both. .. They all had a couple semesters under their belts already ... and jobs in the Restaurant industry.. it was not really an easy sell for 2 of them at first.. but all four wanted to be part of us. Our Senior Sergeant got them in contact with official recruiters to complete their paperwork ... Them 4 joined.. took a bypass skill test in basic training.. so they came in with an official AF 3 skill level in Food services.. Their
5 skill level books were put on order as soon The AF notified the unit they completed BMT. Quite a few units gained prospectives that became Airmen..
I believe our unit gained 100 new Airmen through our all-out effort in Recruiting..
that ideal I impressed on our prospectives.. s’body said that wasn’t a good idea.. A Reserve Recruiter agreed..
We got to tell them the truth.. As long as we do that.. we’ll “be in the right”...
I went “ active duty” because of an opportune sit-rep at a year’s point. I had all the endorsements needed backing my doing that. I was an A1C, had my 5 skill level, had been a 1st Cook, during some of the drills due to a weather sit-rep during one of them and a unforeseen sit-rep in another.. i always kept in my head that
“War doesn’t take a holiday!” .. so I didn’t expect to be off on one.. if it happened, so be it! ... I had made a colorful note with a Airman working (with a calendar paper showing it was Christmas Day on the bulletin board behind his back) “War doesn’t take a holiday!” Somebody took it the wrong way and said my sign wasn’t p.c. because it ‘rubbed salt in the wound’.
I was there when I seen them take it off the board.. “ Gee, it looks like somebody can’t handle the truth, eh Mrs _________?”
(She was a Civilian WG -7 ). In her somewhat snobby nasally voice; “ there is no AF form number on this, therefore it’s unauthorized ! are you responsible for this?” I owned up proud-like; “Yes I am, (I didn’t push any further... besides I had the master to it.. a little creative graphic lettering..and it would turn into a Base Food Service form. I had Comrades at Base graphics that did forms copies.. They followed through for me). A couple weeks later it was back on the board.. with a Base Dining Facility form no; xxxxx0001.. I don’t know if it is still
On the board or not.. It’d be nice if it was..

Response by SFC Christopher Taggart made Dec 31 at 2017 1:05 PM

2017-12-31T13:05:09-05:00

Working on a holiday is bad planning, but it’s also ‘power for the course.’ I've been in all three components of the Army (RA, AR, NG), and worked a holiday or two. At first, a soldier complains about it, but after a while it’s just another day. Since leaving the military, on my last job, I worked weekends, holidays, and evenings.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Dec 31 at 2017 5:22 PM

2017-12-31T17:22:08-05:00

The Holiday was unavoidable, get your eraser out. If you can't make your training requirements then "you can't" become the operative word

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Dec 31 at 2017 5:41 PM

2017-12-31T17:41:29-05:00

I think it is an excellent tool when the Army is going through a drawdown, because I can't think of a better way to not retain troops. All -3 Shops should be mandated to attend a 48 hour power point on calendar utilization. Failure to adhere to it means you come back on the holiday weekend to see it all over again.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2021 11:39 AM

2021-03-28T11:39:53-04:00

I literally have BA. SCHEDULED FOR EASTER SUNDAY 2021... ABSOLUTELY LIVID

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Jan 25 at 2023 10:26 AM

2023-01-25T10:26:49-05:00

I would think Holidaze would be a no-go for budgetary reasons. Overtime for the DA civilians that support esp if you have to go to post, go to firing ranges and draw tanks and arty and stuff and use them. Never paid attention to see if things such as range control are 24/7/365 operations. Maybe not so much OT, if that the case. Most contracts have holidaze pay at 2 1/2 regular pay that I familiar with.