I’m getting stationed at Fort Hood. Will they send me home to get personal belongings? If so, will they make me take my leave days?

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 13:59:37 -0500

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Jan 7 at 2018 2:05 PM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 14:05:25 -0500

You should have something like ten days of leave between your AIT and your report date to Hood. Those are the days that you will be using in order to get everything you need and to move to Fort Hood and be all ready to go. Double check all of your orders and what they say.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2018 3:09 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 15:09:58 -0500

Like he said, check your orders and make sure you get a copy of your leave form (DA FORM 31). Talk to your AIT Plt SGT also

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2018 3:18 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 15:18:22 -0500

Check your orders for your report date. You generally have 10 days to get from AIT to your duty station. Plus you can put in a pass for a long weekend (4days) to go back home to gather personal things that couldn’t make the trip. You don’t ever HAVE to use your leave days unless you’re in a use or lose situation which you don’t have to worry about now since you’re just entering into the Army.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jan 7 at 2018 3:29 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 15:29:01 -0500

OK, all below are good thoughts, but it all depends on exactly what your orders say. I didn't get leave time from jump school to Ft Bragg, cause the Army arranged the travel. You won't need any personal things in your new unit for some time. If the orders give you travel/leave time then fine. Just remember billets vary from Post to Post in age, size, condition. Your new unit may not like the idea ( nor your room mate) showing up with a ton of stuff and nowhere to put it. Strongly suggest you go with the flow and recon the new unit/area 1st.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2018 5:15 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 17:15:51 -0500

you may also be able to have your personal belongings shipped without you physically going home to get them. Go see the transportation office when you get to hood if you don't have them by then.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Jan 7 at 2018 6:08 PM

SGT Tony Clifford — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 18:08:24 -0500

Check your orders and DA31. You should get 10 days of leave. I suggest that you not take the whole time. Save as many days of leave as possible in case an emergency comes up and you need to take leave.

Response by SGM Joel Cook made Jan 8 at 2018 2:17 AM

SGM Joel Cook — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 02:17:27 -0500

It really depends on what items you want to bring to Fort Hood. Personal belongings is mighty obscure. Barracks rooms are limited in size and restrictions definitely limit your options. Before I reported to my first duty assignment which was Fort Hood. I traveled from Fort Gordon, Georgia; returned to my parents home in Minnesota, at my own out of pocket expense, to get my car, some civilian clothes, a stereo system and a small refrigerator. There was more than adequate room in my barracks room for all that stuff. It was six years before I made enough money to rent an apartment and have enough room for other stuff. So many other items I left at my folks house and gave them away to relatives over the years as there was never going to be room in the barracks for them. Most importantly, they will not send you home. You must pay and make your own way home, if it is allowed on your orders and leave form. I remember my Senior Drill Sergant gave me some assistance with making travel reservations from Georgia to Minnesota. Then I drove my car to Texas. I hope this helps you out some. Good travels.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2018 4:03 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:03:17 -0500

You should be receiving a complete briefing from your leadership that will lay out all the "what's next" steps after AIT. This should include timeliines already mentioned in this thread.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jan 14 at 2018 10:29 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 10:29:11 -0500

You will go straight to your unit and from there you can talk to your first line supervisor.

Response by SPC Michael Hedenberg made Jan 14 at 2018 7:43 PM

SPC Michael Hedenberg — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 19:43:26 -0500

I went from APG to Fort Hood which was my first duty station with what i had with me from AIT and then about 90 days later my car and a few other things my parents brought to me because it was about a days drive from there home to Fort Hood

Response by SPC Roberto Figueroa made Jan 28 at 2018 11:15 PM

SPC Roberto Figueroa — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 23:15:15 -0500

If you haven't signed up for the HRAP (Hometown Recruiting Assistance Program), DO IT! And here's why: you get an additional ten days to help out the local Army recruiters, plus the ten days you already accumulated from basic. Now you will have 20 days to be at home. It's a "win-win" situation!

Response by SGT Eric Davis made Feb 24 at 2018 8:00 PM

SGT Eric Davis — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 20:00:55 -0500

Yeah check your orders cause my brother graduated Thursday and had to report that Monday to check in and he didn’t take leave til like a month later. Then they put him in another unit that went to Germany a month later so he was at his duty station for 2 months then overseas.

Oh he is also station in FT HOOD. So check your orders

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2021 8:09 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 20:09:57 -0400

I can't answer your question, but I can tell you that you WILL need a vehicle. This place is HUGE! Save your pennies now and get yourself a beater as soon as you can.