Cadets have a leave period over Thanksgiving, two and a half weeks for winter break and one week in the spring semester. Often, many cadets have the opportunity to go home over long weekends as well. During the summer, cadets take required leadership programs, which are held at the Academy or other installations. Either before or after a leadership program, most cadets in the upper three classes have approximately three weeks of leave. There are exceptions for cadets who volunteer or who are required to attend summer school. In these cases, leave periods must be forfeited.