Can I pay for myself to go home for Thanksgiving while at AIT?

The question to answer is is will your commander at your temporary assignment authorize you to take leave because if you try to leave the immediate TDY area by plane or vehicle without official leave orders and can not return to your assigned duty station on the next class or work day, you are AWOL and in trouble regardless of who in your unit said it was OK verbally! The real issue during holidays is unexpected travel delays at airports and on roads due to weather conditions and anyone who has traveled at Thanksgiving or Christmas knows that delays should be foreseen and expected. But every holiday a soldier or their family tries to defy the odds and advice of their superiors. The pay issue for transportation to and from is important to who signs for leave, but not the branch of service. There are regulations & local policy on travel limits too given by base commanders that if your unit is recalled during the holidays only official leave excuses you from attending and this happens too! Our rule in AF was take enough leave on holiday trips and don't think you can beat the system and go a significant distance more than 8 hrs without unit commander's authorization. It is not worth an article 15. Remember who you work for and why you are there at the TDY location. You are getting paid well to be there not at home with family for a holiday meal. It is just part of the job, that every soldier in every branch faces each year. Be wise and get proper authorization in all situations in your career as a soldier! Otherwise your career could be shorter than you expect for foolish decisions! It is a privilege and honor to serve in our military branches and learn those skills few citizens will have! Holidays are only one of the many sacrifices required from us veterans. Know your regulations on these issues and then you will be prepared in the future and can help others to avoid foolish mistakes. That is another part of your role and education as a future leader! Isn't that what your school training is for?

1SG, I totally disagree. The Soldier always needs to ask in order to not only get the answer, but to get clarification and guidance as well. If his unit put the word out that they could go, but he wasn't there to get the word (i.e. the Soldier was on Quarters when the word was put out in a formation), and he heard other Soldiers talking about it, then he needs to find out the true direction from the Cadre. Listening to the rumor mill will only get him in trouble. I know this, being that I was Cadre with an AIT unit, and have seen it all.