2010 Holiday Standdown is official

[Arwen]

Canc frp:  Jan 11
COMNAVCRUITCOMNOTE 1050 N3
13 Sep 2010
COMNAVCRUITCOM NOTICE 1050
From:  Commander, Navy Recruiting Command

Subj:  ALL HANDS HOLIDAY LEAVE PERIOD
1. Purpose. Provide policy and procedures for the FY11 Holiday Leave period.

2. Discussion. Commander, Navy Recruiting Command (COMNAVCRUITCOM) has authorized a holiday leave period for recruiting activities beginning on close of business 17 December 2010 through 2 January 2011. In conjunction with this period, Recruit Training Command will not receive any recruits during the period from 17 December 2010 through 2 January 2011. Two 96-hour liberty periods are authorized during the holiday leave period: 23-26 December 2010 and 30 December 2010 - 2 January 2011. Special liberty for military personnel and liberal leave for civilian personnel is authorized during these two periods.

    a. Navy Recruiting Command (NAVCRUITCOM) Waivers Branch will process all waivers submitted prior to this period. The PRIDE system will cease operations from close of business 17 December through 2 January 2011.

    b. The first Officer Candidate School (OCS) class of the year convenes 10 January 2011. All candidates must have a current “Physically Qualified (PQ)” medical examination and orders prior to the beginning of the holiday leave period. The first Officer Development School (ODS) class convenes on 3 January 2011. All members must have a current medical examination and orders prior to the beginning of the leave period.

    c. Navy Recruiting Districts (NAVCRUITDISTs) are not expected to completely shut down. This leave period provides an opportunity to accomplish functions important to production, such as training and qualification boards. All Hands events, including annual awards banquets and training events, are not authorized to be held during the leave period. Commanding Officers will ensure a continuous watch is maintained during the holiday leave period.

3.  Action
    a. Effective immediately, Navy Recruiting Regions, Navy Recruiting Orientation Unit, and Navy Recruiting Districts are directed to promulgate a maximum leave and liberty policy for the holiday leave period.

    b. NAVCRUITDISTs will ensure all 10 January 2011 OCS and 3 January 2011 ODS attendees have completed “Physically Qualified (PQ)” medical examinations and have orders in hand prior to 17 December 2010.

4. Any questions regarding the holiday standdown period may be referred to the Director of Operations, COMM [phone] or DSN 882-9055.
                                    /s/
                                 R. L. GRAF
                                 Deputy
Distribution:
Electronic only, via
http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/Publications/directives.htm
                                2

[Purplemom (Ship 3 Div 084)]

Thanks for the info. My son leaves on Dec. 15th and is afraid he will get there and be held for a week or more before he can start due to the Holiday Standdown.

[Arwen]

My son didn't actually arrive until the 17th, along with a LOT of other recruits, who formed the basis for the next two weeks of divisions. Guys who arrived only a day or two before he did started training the next Monday (normal processing time), so your son has a good chance of getting into one of the last non-holding divisions.

Being in holding actually served my son well, his division got every flag and scored very well because they had nearly two weeks with their RDC before the points began to "count." They simply outperformed earlier divisions and almost every division in their group received honors. So, there is an advantage to holding for a couple of weeks.

[Purplemom (Ship 3 Div 084)]

Thanks for sharing. I guess that would definitely be an upside for holding. My son is definitely learning patience in this process. He is chomping at the bit to get out of here. Now that all his friends have left for college or boot camp/basic training he feels like he is stuck in a holding pattern and there is nothing for him here. He wants to get on with his life. He can't wait to fly. I think besides being held a boot camp for that week or two his biggest fear is being sent back overseas for his first duty station (we live in Germany now and have been here almost 5 years). He wants to spend some time in the good ole USA. The time in basic and the 8 or 10 weeks of A school would just be a teaser to him if he were sent back overseas. Of course he will go where they send him and he is the type that will enjoy it where ever, but he really wants aomewhere/anywhere in the US.

[tls]

Thanks for the info, Arwen ... so what does this mean if they told my daughter she would ship out on December 29th? I assume this means that definitely won't be her ship date? Should she press her recruiter now to give her a more firm date, or just wait until they let her know something? If her rate changes, will that possibly also change her ship date?

[Arwen]

The date they gave her is based on when there will be an opening at her A-school, which I think is about 10 weeks after her ship date. So, they will probably have her report on the 16th or so, and "hold" her in processing for a week or two before she actually starts training. Since she's within a few days of the end of the stand-down, they might have her report on January 3rd instead. Maybe. After 22 years I still haven't quite figured out why the Navy does some things.

Changing her rating would almost definately change her report date.

It's not as bad as it sounds, they do keep the recruits in processing very busy. It's really hard to tell the difference between non-training days and training days, especially for the first month or two, so it's not like they'll be sitting around twiddling their thumbs for that time. They will be learning to march, establishing recruit leadership, getting fitted for uniforms and learning care of said uniforms The Navy Way™, getting medical checkups, dental checkups, and learning how to make a bed The Navy Way™.

[Kellymcd11]

My son is leaving on December 6, 2010, is there a chance he will have leave for Christmas. I am confused about your post. If the recruiting stations are closing are the recruits allowed to come home? This is also the first I have heard about holding. I am understanding that although he has arrived at boot camp he might not actually start for quite sometime.

[Renick ET]

Marine navy mom, thanks for info. Mine leaves 12/15/10. As I understand they will begin basic, but will that extend their date for PIR out to longer than 8 weeks? Did it extend your date last year? Thanks again!

Trying to get motivated to cooking Thanksgiving meal and not doing so good! I'll probably put it off til the last minute!

[Janice]

My son will B at GL on Dec.8th if any one hear's anything Please let me no ! ThankYou!