How many of you had duty on Christmas or volunteered to take someone's duty so they could be with family?

2017-12-22T11:34:17-05:00

Response by SPC Randy Torgerson made Dec 22 at 2017 11:36 AM

2017-12-22T11:36:53-05:00

Since I was single in the Army, I used to volunteer to take my buddies duty on some major holidays so they could be with their wive's and kids. It was usually quiet and someone always brought us little food gifts and treated us real nice.

Response by PO1 Don Gulizia made Dec 22 at 2017 1:08 PM

2017-12-22T13:08:05-05:00

Yes and yes. But the best one was the year that I was standing the Air Intel Watch Officer position, at NORAD, on Christmas Eve. Tracked Santa all night long! (We didn't have the fancy website back then, so kids had to call in.)

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Dec 22 at 2017 2:46 PM

2017-12-22T14:46:08-05:00

More times than i can remember.
And this year i'm working Xmas Eve and Day, of course...lol

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Dec 22 at 2017 4:22 PM

2017-12-22T16:22:18-05:00

Plenty of times. I can't stand most holidays so I would volunteer often.

Response by Maj John Bell made Dec 23 at 2017 1:12 AM

2017-12-23T01:12:46-05:00

We have always celebrated Christmas the last full weekend in January. I almost never had a scheduling conflict with anyone else. I would either take Christmas eve or Christmas Day every year. If I took Christmas eve, I'd check with the XO and then give the relief a break, so he wouldn't have to assume the duty until 1200. If I took Christmas Day, I'd check with the XO and then post 4 hours early, so the watch could be home when his kids woke up.