Odds of me getting leave for Christmas in Korea?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 06:18:10 -0400

I just got to Korea out of AIT and decided to direct report so I could hopefully come home for Christmas, reason being, like many families, it is our biggest holiday, and losing my aunt and grandmother this year, I would really like to be home for my mom. I will have 17 days of leave by December 21st. So what are my chances?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2018 6:26 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 06:26:34 -0400

Chances are pretty good. Mission dependent of course. Have you been contacted with your sponsor? If so, you should inform them of your intent immediately. If not, as soon as you get to your gaining, notify your team Sergeant/squad leader of your intent so that they can look at the training calendar and forecast the holiday block leave dates. Nonetheless the sooner you start inquiring to your leadership of your intent the more likely the chances of it becoming a reality. Good luck and my condolences to you bro.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2018 6:32 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 06:32:15 -0400

As long as you can pay for your flight back to states then back to Korea shouldn’t be a problem at all. Usually when soldiers go on leave from Korea they take atleast 30 days. With you having only 17 most units will not let you go in the hole on leave days and want to save you atleast ten days for emergency reasons. You take all 17 days then an unforeseen incident happens you will not have any days to take. The hardships of being in the military sometimes you’re going to miss those special events and special days. Spent 4 birthdays overseas missed my child being born unlimited number of birthdays and special events missed and I have 5 girls so it gets rough. Just have to talk to your family and make them understand that you’re not going to make all the special events and holidays. Thank God for today’s technology you can still enjoy those days even with being away. Good luck with your tour in Korea I have been there twice and you will make life long friends while you’re there. You all will become family away from family and it’s awesome.

Response by CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana made Oct 9 at 2018 7:45 AM

CPT Gurinder (Gene) Rana — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 07:45:02 -0400

Your situation is unique SPC Private RallyPoint Member; inform your sponsor at once and; take 10 days only. As Top has confirmed, you will have to pay your way both to and fro; a return ticket is cheaper. I am certain, depending on mission, your outfit will approve your leave. Enjoy it.

Response by SSG Eric Trace made Oct 9 at 2018 10:48 AM

SSG Eric Trace — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 10:48:21 -0400

Slim to none, you usually have to be in country 90 days before being able to apply for leave. You can explain the situation to your chain of Command, but remember there are certain regulations in place that they cannot change, so if the answer is no, don’t become bitter at them, they have rules that they have to follow as well.

Response by SGT Tony Clifford made Oct 9 at 2018 11:11 AM

SGT Tony Clifford — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 11:11:30 -0400

Not too good. Literally everyone in your unit will try to get leave on Christmas. Your unit needs to maintain a certain percentage of it's strength year round. You might have a special case considering the deaths in your family, but that's assuming that they died relatively recently and you're planning on attending their memorials. My grandfather actually died a few days after I reported to Korea and I wasn't able to get leave approved to go to his memorial. The logic behind this was that my unit was under strength on NCOs, we were about to go to the field and he wasn't immediate family. So, I had to go to the field within 3 days of arriving at my unit, all while my grandfather's funeral service was going on.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2018 1:49 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 13:49:55 -0400

In my experience your chances are zero. I don’t recall any of the Soldiers in my unit being given leave to go home unless we voluntarily extended or had a family emergency. I extended for 3 months so I got 3 weeks leave after 12 months in area 1 and had to return for 3 more months.