Fort Eisenhower Soldiers Set To Head Home For The Holidays

Soldiers at Fort Eisenhower can start singing "I'll be home for Christmas." It won't be long now.

Holiday Block Leave for all recruits who are in basic training begins Saturday, December 21 and runs through Monday, January 6.

About 3,000 Soldiers stationed at Ft. Eisenhower will leave by bus for Augusta Regional Airport and Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta starting at midnight, Friday and continuing throughout the day.

Some family members will be picking Soldiers up on post, but you have to have clearance to do so first. Those 18 and older in the vehicle are required to have a background check and pass before being allowed unescorted access to the installation.

The 10-day break starts a week before Christmas and lasts until nearly a week after Christmas. In addition to the new Soldiers, the Holiday Block Leave also gives drill sergeants and basic training staff members some much needed time off as well with their families.

The Army is the only service that puts basic training and advanced individual training on hold during the holidays.

An estimated 40,000 U.S. Army Soldiers will be traveling over the annual Holiday Block Leave period.

"Our primary goal is to ensure the health and safety of our Soldiers traveling home to be with their families during the holidays. We'll be working through our training centers to maintain communication with Soldiers and provide information and resources to ensure their safe return in the New Year," said Sgt. Major Michael McMurdy, senior enlisted leader for the U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training.

Soldiers are not required to leave the installation during Holiday Block Leave. Those who choose to stay will be supported throughout the holidays by their unit as well as the installation. Morale, welfare and recreation activities are planned for those who choose to stay at their training location.