Fort Sill’s Holiday Block Leave Exodus the gift of going home

As Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training soldiers at Fort Sill sat and waited in line, all they could think of was going home to their families.

As soldiers unfolded their itineraries and ran to get checked in and loaded onto the buses, that mission was within their grasp.

Thursday evening, Fort Sill’s Holiday Block Leave Exodus Operations offered one last stepping stone away from going home for the holidays for BCT and AIT soldiers. They get to take a couple of weeks off to catch up with family and relax until they come back to resume training after the New Year.

“HBL Exodus Operations is the multi-day process of bussing these trainees to airports for their leave,” Ed Muniz, Deputy Director of the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill said. “Usually, senior commanders will attend Exodus Operations to bid the trainees safe travel and happy holidays.”

Lt. Col. Charles F. Noble, Battalion Commander of 179 Field Artillery 434 FA Brigade, said he was very satisfied with the progress made over 10 weeks.

“It’s amazing to see them grow and develop every day and it’s through the hard work that they put in and the dedication of the drill sergeant,” Noble said. “I get to see the trainees come in from across the U.S. and across the world as citizens. We get to see them transform into U.S. soldiers, that’s just an amazing experience to witness and to be a part of.”

Noble plans to visit his sister in Arkansas.

“I’m very excited because she lives in the Ozarks and its nice there,” Noble said. “I’m bringing the whole family, I’ve got a large family and we’re gonna spend the holidays together and eat some good food. They live on about 1,500 acres out in the southern Ozarks and we’re gonna spend a lot of time outside, even if it’s cold.”

PFC Naranda Brigance has been enjoying her training in many ways.

“So far, it’s been great,” Brigance said. “I’m actually really enjoying it. My drill sergeant is making it really fun, it’s a new experience for everyone. It can be hard at times, like stressful for your mind and your body, but you just got to keep pushing and keep that mindset going. Most of us trainees have never touched a weapon before and the way they teach it, the way they tell us a lot of new things, it’s really safe and awesome.”

She thought it unreal that they would get a break from training.

“I feel like, from the very beginning, when we first got to basic, it was kind of mind-boggling knowing that we actually get a break from doing this,” Brigance said. “I like the fact that we can go home and have this break. We can spend time with family and in between that, we can be able to have just a reset.”

Brigance’s main goal when she goes home to Greenville, Texas, is to hug her blue heeler, Delta. But that’s not all.

“I know my mom misses me,” Brigance said. “I didn’t tell her I was coming home. I bought my own ticket so I’m gonna surprise her when I go home. I’m gonna show up to wherever they’re eating lunch and walk in.”