Evening star., 1953-11-20
Veterans and
Druftees
By Moi. Thomos M. Mol

by MOI. In0moS NJ. Nl0t
The armed forces plan to cut
training schedules and other
duties to allow many servicemen
l(and women, too, of course) to
be home during the holiday sea-
son.
Basic training will continue
and personnel will get leave only
on Christmas and New Year
Day. But regular duties and
advanced training will use only
the essential minimum.
Here's the leave program as
outlined by each service:
ARMY-Except for basic train
ing, all training will be suspend
ed from 8 am. December 81 to
8 am. January 4, and leave will
be granted to the maximum pos
sible number of eligible men.
Barring the unforeseen, about
half of those eligible can take
leave over Christmas and the
rest over New Year Day.
For some men in basic training
short holiday leaves will be
granted if commanders can re-
adjust their schedules so as not
to interfere essentially with the
program. For example, if the
men are near the end of the pro-
gram the commander may speed
it up so the men can be home
during the holiday season. In
some cases men who have not
earned enough leave will be
allowed leave time in advance.
Leave Limit IA Days.
NAVY-The holiday period for
the Navy will be from December
19 to January 3. Recruits in
boot training will be given only
Christmas and New Year Day
off unless they have completed
their first six weeks of training.
Men who have completed their
first six weeks will be granted
leave not to exceed IA days.
Other types of training will be
suspended during the holiday
period, and as many men as pos
sible will be granted leaves. Men
taking the Seven-week Naval
Reserve program will be granted
leave up to IA days if they've
completed at least three weeks
of training.
MARINE CORPS-Recruits in
"boot" training, who normally
are given leave at the end of
their training, will be allowed
only Christmas and New Year
Day off. But students in formal
Marine Corps schools and men
on regular duty will be given a
Today leave as the needs of the
corps permit. An attempt will
be made to start the leaves
either on December 18 and 10
or on December % and 20.
AIR RCE-As training
schedules and local conditions
permit, leaves will be granted
between December 81 and jan
uary 4. However, indoctrination
courses and crew training will
continue, and airmen in such
training will be granted only
Christmas and New Year Day
off.
To Stagger Leave Dates.
To lessen the heavy load on
buses, planes and trains, the
services have told post and base
commanders to Stagger leave
dates and times to fit the sched-
ules and space of transportation
facilities.
Railroad and bus companies
are now offering a special round
trip furlough rate. The fare is
a little more than cents a mile
and no Federal transportation
tax is charged. You may apply
for this reduced fare at the local
ticket office and must show your
official leave papers. You must
be in uniform.
incidentally, if you find you
haven't enough money to return
to your station after your leave
is over, you may go to any mill
tary station and request trans
portation and meal tickets for
your return. This will be de-
Quoted from your pay after you
return.
you may 1Urite Mai. Mai,
IN care OF The Star, about
your SerUice-connected prob
lem. Please incloSe stamped,
Selt-addreSSed enUelope and 20
cents IN, StGmpS.J
From AP Newsfeatures.)