15th Regimental Signal Brigade prepares for Holiday Block Leave

Preparations are well underway for the 15th Regimental Signal Brigade’s upcoming Holiday Block Leave. More than 4,000 Advanced Individual Training Soldiers will take leave from Fort Gordon to visit with their families during the upcoming Holiday Season. This will give both the AIT Soldiers as well as the cadre of the 15th RSB an opportunity to spend quality time with their loved ones. The HBL will be from Dec. 17 to Jan. 3, 2010. Training resumes Jan. 5, 2010.

Staging for the mass movement of AIT Soldiers departing Fort Gordon will begin Dec. 16. These Soldier movements will likely entail reduced movement within the 15th RSB footprint from 6 p.m. Dec. 16 to 8 a.m. Dec. 17. AIT Soldiers will be marched or transported to several locations on post, based upon their modes of travel. Soldiers will be traveling to their destinations by bus, by air from the Augusta airport at Bush airfield and the Atlanta airport, as well as privately owned vehicles with approximately 1,000 family members expected to pick up their Soldier.

The Augusta airport will be very busy Dec. 17 accommodating Fort Gordon Soldiers flying to their destinations. The same will be true of the Columbia, S.C., airport for Fort Jackson, S.C., Soldiers departing to their destinations that same day. For those who are flying and have flexible travel schedules, it might be beneficial to travel around that date.

The great number of AIT Soldiers departing Fort Gordon for HBL has required many agencies coming together and providing assistance to the 15th RSB. Southeastern Stagecoaches, Aladdin Travel, and MWR are just a few of the local agencies that have provided support. Ensuring the majority who leave have adequate transportation, lodging, and are safely cared for while waiting to embark on their journey has been a monumental undertaking performed expertly at the company level.

AIT Soldiers not going on HBL will be consolidated into a holding company from Dec. 16 until Jan. 3, 2010. Although still working, these Soldiers will have an opportunity to relax, as well as participate in activities both on and off post. AIT Soldiers who return to Fort Gordon before Jan. 3 will report to the holding company.

AIT Soldiers and 15th RSB cadre are reminded to stay safe and make wise decisions during the HBL. No amount of prior planning can atone for unsafe behavior. Each has a responsibility to help protect our country’s greatest asset—the American Soldier.