My BCT ends a week after Christmas will we finish basic training early?

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 00:13:55 -0400

Will basic training finish early or will we leave for Christmas and come back to finish the last week?

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Oct 3 at 2018 12:20 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 00:20:20 -0400

I don’t know what is done now, PVT Private RallyPoint Member. However, I started BCT at Fort Jackson on 11NOV69 and finished on 16JAN70. We had Christmas leave; I’m thinking two weeks.
I’m on the front row, second from the right.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Oct 3 at 2018 8:35 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 08:35:36 -0400

PVT Private RallyPoint Member Drill Sergeants are people too....lol so its not all about you... the BCT units will shut down training, Soldiers not taking Christmas exodus LV (Which is chargeable and will put you in the hole IOW negative leave days) consolidated into one unit area... Most the cadre will take leave, 2 weeks later everything starts back up where they left off.....

I arrived for my OUST Oct 15 so had to endure Christmas exodus .....in hind sight taking the leave was a mistake as I got orders for Germany and departed the day of Graduation, then being in the hole on leave days it was quite some time before I could take leave.
As DS, I dealt with Christmas exodus 4 times and it was a pain each and every time... So just go along to get along ....there are more moving parts than you can see or understand..no one, not you not the Cadre like those moving parts, last min changes, no prep time movement orders ...but that is what Christmas exodus causes and brings with it.

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Oct 3 at 2018 10:38 AM

SGT Jim Arnold — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 10:38:29 -0400

I started basic around October 1, 1983 and completed basic around the 7th of December arrived for AIT FT Gordon, GA for 10 days they had us police calling and trolling cigarette butts on Barton field and hours at the learning center with quick training courses until mass exodus which the whole post mounted buses and left

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2018 2:37 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 14:37:33 -0400

You get Exodus in the Army when you are in basic or AIT. You get two weeks off for Exodus to go home if you choose. Even if one doesn't have enough leave, it gets approved. Then you come back and finish.

I was in AIT from Sept 2004 - Feb 2005. We got two weeks off for Christmas to go home and then had to come back. A few maybe didn't make it back...I can't remember.

You will go home, come back, finish and go to AIT.

Response by CPL Hays Hays made Oct 4 at 2018 1:18 PM

CPL Hays Hays — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 13:18:41 -0400

Response by Sgt John Steinmeier made Oct 4 at 2018 8:28 PM

Sgt John Steinmeier — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 20:28:29 -0400

I spent Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years in in basic. We got the day off, but no leave.

Response by SGT Jack Stevens made Oct 13 at 2018 2:06 PM

SGT Jack Stevens — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 14:06:27 -0400

If you were paying attention, you would know. This is always covered, at reception upon the trainees arrival at reception. If you are currently in BT, ask your DS. And be honest, that you have forgotten. And just trying to verify for planning purposes.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2018 5:04 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Oct 2018 17:04:25 -0400

You should receive holiday block leave then you will come
Back to finish training