Does the Army send people out to start basic training during November & December?

2020-11-12T14:53:04-05:00

Does the Army send people out to start basic training during November & December? I'm trying to leave as soon as possible but not sure if this is something the Army will do because of Thanksgiving/Christmas...do they send people to start at this time of year or would January be the earliest I could leave?
EDIT: I did reach out to my recruiter to ask this but haven't heard back in a couple days so just figured I'd see if anyone here had any info on this

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2020 3:06 PM

2020-11-12T15:06:06-05:00

Have you talked to a recruiter who will have the best answers?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2020 3:13 PM

2020-11-12T15:13:54-05:00

You really need to ask a recruiter that question. The Army used to do bonuses for Soldiers that enlisted and then were willing to ship within 30 days. If you haven't even begun talking to a recruiter yet, I believe it would be unrealistic to expect to ship in Nov, or even Dec (regardless of holidays). Even if you do ship quickly, be prepared to sit in reception for 4+ weeks until you get picked up by a training company. My buddy just came back in about 3-4 months ago as prior service and was stuck in reception for 7-8 weeks.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Nov 12 at 2020 5:28 PM

2020-11-12T17:28:16-05:00

Look, left in Oct 73, family could visit me at the base in the mess hall for Thanksgiving. Lucked out and had a break from Dec23 to Jan 2 before reporting to Ft Polk.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Nov 12 at 2020 9:00 PM

2020-11-12T21:00:33-05:00

You are a prior Marine? Unless rules changed, you don't go to basic.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Nov 12 at 2020 10:22 PM

2020-11-12T22:22:27-05:00

Yes. My grandson did training at Ft Leonard Wood MO in winter.

Response by SSG Dale London made Nov 13 at 2020 12:01 AM

2020-11-13T00:01:30-05:00

Yep. I started basic on November 11, 1980. We got sent home over Christmas and came back in January to finish.

Response by SGT Patrick Reno made Nov 13 at 2020 4:54 PM

2020-11-13T16:54:48-05:00

Ya, went to basic at Ft. Benning on November 9th. Who would want to do basic down there in the summer?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2020 5:01 PM

2020-11-13T17:01:17-05:00

I went to basic Dec 30th.

Just because you want to leave soon doesn’t mean there is an class seat available.

And if you are coming from the Marine Corp as a rifleman, you shouldn’t be going to basic

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2020 5:21 PM

2020-11-13T17:21:54-05:00

Yes. They have exodus during Christmas which means no training during that time (holiday block leave for everyone else).

So yes you could ship out in November and December but you likely won't ship during that blocked out time in Dec which is around 19 Dec - 3 Jan. I don't know - I was in AIT during exodus.