Duty on Holidays, Family Events, and/or Special Occassions?

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 May 2014 14:18:46 -0400

We've all been there, so over the years what were those stand-out situations & memories, maybe it was a deployment during the birth of your first child; Battalion, barracks or some other duty on Christmas or New Year's Eve/Day; or perhaps is was a birthday, maybe you had Happy Birthday sung to you in formation on the way to the rifle range, or by Ms. Virginia while in uniform--who knows, anything can happen and probably has; so, dust off your best sea stories, we want to hear them! So, what are we waiting for, let's get this thing started; thank you all for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2014 2:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 May 2014 14:24:28 -0400

Sir, Here at NTC getting a holiday off is a figment of our imagination, though after each rotation we do get a 4 day weekend, its not really the same. The only actually holidays we get off is Christmas and New Years.

Response by Maj Walter Kilar made May 24 at 2014 3:32 PM

Maj Walter Kilar — Sat, 24 May 2014 15:32:53 -0400

My best and worst memory is the birth of my son back in Florida while I was in Korea, just before Christmas 1999. He was not due until about New Year's, but I considered it an early Christmas present. All of us in Korea in that time frame were hunkered down for what we thought was going to be a Y2K crisis (intel suggested North Korea was going to "try something" on New Year's). Lucky for me, my son was born on the last day off I had before New Year's and I was able to hear him being born via telephone 14 time zones away.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2014 3:38 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 May 2014 15:38:08 -0400

I was at Ft Sill for basic training during Thanksgiving. The chow hall had a full blown Thanksgiving dinner prepared for the trainees. Best part was unlimited use of the pay phones for the night.

Response by SSG Robin Rushlo made May 24 at 2014 8:10 PM

SSG Robin Rushlo — Sat, 24 May 2014 20:10:53 -0400

I always went and asked for duty on those days so that my men could get the day off with their family. Once I was married I did the same till kids were at least 5 and could notice daddy was gone.

Response by SSG Mark Ives made May 24 at 2014 11:37 PM

SSG Mark Ives — Sat, 24 May 2014 23:37:40 -0400

When I was in Berlin in the late 80's we monitored the Soviets 24-7, 365 days a year. I'd usually work the holidays, so my troops with family could spent time with them. It was a small price to pay to see their kids happy!