Return to the "POINTER VIEW"January 12, 2001
Return to the "POINTER VIEW"
January 12, 2001
U.S. Military Academy Chief of Staff, Col. Grant M. Smith, signed a memorandum Wednesday asking USMA activity directors to schedule and authorize training holidays for soldiers.
The memo is the result of a new policy from the Army Chief of Staff. General Eric K. Shinseki recently announced, as part of his Wellness Program, that all military personnel, unless performing mission essential tasks, would be granted a training holiday whenever a three-day weekend occurs as a result of a federal holiday. Shinseki also encouraged organizations to authorize civilians leave on those days.
Smith’s memo states that "military personnel are authorized a training holiday. Compensatory time should be considered for those military personnel unable to observe the training holiday because of essential mission or supervisory responsibilities." Smith encouraged MADs to reduce manning and authorize civilian leave on those days.
The memo also states that "conduct of the academy schedule on a training holiday is considered mission essential for cadets and supporting staff and faculty" and that "Commanders of MEDDAC and DENTAC may establish duty requirements which meet their operational needs."
The following are the remaining training holidays scheduled for calendar year 2001 and the federal holidays they coincide with:
Feb. 16, President’s Day; May 25, Memorial Day; Aug. 31, Labor Day; Oct. 5, Columbus Day; Nov. 9, Veterans Day; Nov. 23, Thanksgiving; Dec. 24, Christmas, Dec. 31, New Years.