Exodus between Airborne and RASP?

[Bloody_Limey]

I just graduated as a 68W and am heading to Ft Benning for Airborne this weekend. Airborne finishes Dec 16th and RASP begins in early January. My question is, do soldiers going on from Airborne to RASP get held-over at Ft Benning or do they get a Christmas exodus? I know RASP is not TRADOC but the exodus seems to be a grey issue.
Does anyone know or have any experience relating to this?
I am totally prepared to be held-over - whatever it takes - but I also haven't seen my children for 8-months (I realize some people haven't seen family for much longer...) and would rather know ahead of time the likelihood of getting exodus so I can make travel plans and save on airfare by purchasing in advance.
Any advice would be much appreciated.

[Jim]

Someone should be able to give you an up to date answer shortly. We have a rule here at armyranger.com. Your initial thread should be an introduction. As you provided some biographical data I will try to move this to the proper forum. You can add more data later. Welcome...

[Bloody_Limey]

Apologies. I'm a 68 Whiskey, Specialist, Active Duty.
I'm a little older than most at 38-yrs of age, I enlisted late in life partly because I only moved to the US 6-yrs ago from England and only obtained my citizenship last year through marriage.
I have 3 children. Ages 11, 5 and 3.
I worked as a Registered Nurse for 10-yrs as a civilian - from Europe to Alaska, from oncology to ICU. I enlisted because I felt it was my duty and because its the most challenging thing I can do. I didn't enlist as an RN because I wanted to see combat and also because I'm a diploma RN and the Army only accepts degree trained RNs.
Despite my age, I'm in good shape - I scored 346 on the extended scale last month.
My family all live in southern Oregon.
I'm on ArmyRanger.com for tips on how to get through RASP.
Thanks!

[K.Ingraham]

Welcome aboard - good medics are a real asset and therre are never enough.

Cut& Paste that intro & post it in the "vets & soldiers" intro forum. Attention to detail, or rather, lack of it will get you dropped from RASP & the SOF medics course in nothing flat.

Christmas leave is a mixed blessing. Seeing the kids is a must but you absolutely cannot slack up on the PT, which at your age must be your first priority. You're too old to get caught up in the usual time-off issues like drinking or returning late. If you must go on leave, return early. The RASP committee won't care less if your flights get delayed or canceled. Best bet: keep your eyes on the prize and prepare for RASP right there at Benning.

Be the best possible medic you can be and be in the best possible shape you can get into - it is probably a little late for that though.
Beyond that, just don't quit.

[Bloody_Limey]

Sound advice. Thank you. I spoke to my wife this evening and told her that we should count on me not getting any leave for Christmas. "Keep your eye on the prize.", is spot on.
Although seeing my family before RASP might inspire me to be extra resilient and determined to get through it - and as far as PT goes, I think I would probably do more at home than in a hold-over status, because I run like a fiend when I'm back home, wheras finding a battle buddy to go running long-distances with in TRADOC has proved incredibly difficult - I recall the first few weeks of BCT we weren't allowed to go running at all... I went from running 50 or 60 miles a week to nothing for 2-weeks while I was in reception. A group of us ended up finally getting permission to run laps of the CTA in our 1-hour 'personal time'. But that was BCT. I'm sure the quality of PT will be a lot better at Benning. But my point is, the core of your advice is to not count on anything. I'd love to see my family. But there's no question I'd rather get through RASP than get a few weeks leave. Either way, it's a good mind-set to get into: Don't count on anything. Stay focused on the goal.
Thanks again!
Reposted my intro in the correct location. Thanks for squaring me away on that too.

[goon175]

My younger brother is currently in Phase 1 of RASP, and he has been told they will be going on Christmas leave for 2 weeks, and starting Phase 2 after new years. I would "Assume" that if the RASP class is getting leave, the Pre-RASP group will be getting leave as well. I'm sure the cadre would enjoy a break from all of you as well! Also, lots of good running trails and gyms on benning, you will be able to run as much as you like.

[Sparks24]

Yes Pre-RASP will have exodus. We have the dates as well but due to OPSEC I won't be posting them. PM me if you have further questions.

Also, you will have no trouble finding running partners once you get here.

[Willy_P]

Someone's gotta pull that bad ass staff duty.

[VIPER--00]

Why do you care; your in the Army. Your life is ruined.

[Bloody_Limey]

I was offered leave but decided I could make better use of my time than wasting it on my family, so I am now 52-miles into a modified alternating forward lunge / 8-count push-up. I started 6-days ago. Just took a quick break for my first MRE and to send off this post.
What really sucks is that I got Chilli Mac, and this whole time I thought I had Cheese Tortellini.
Sucks to be me right now. Okay, back to the lunges.
Hope you're having a good Christmas!
;)

[K.Ingraham]

Good choice.

At 38 you flat out need more sleep, more rest time to recover then the kids do. Time you will not get in RASP or Ranger School, so what you go in with will have to carry you right on through. The more strength and endurance you have now, the better off you'll be. Once your start date draws close, do not try to extend yourself, just maintain - you'll need to avoid injury, reference that "recovery" thing I mentioned.
Bottom line: DON'T QUIT. Your kids will never want to see you again if you do & your wife will run off with a marine while you continue to send her the family separation allowance.