U.S. Army Europe soldiers will get 14 training holidays to supplement 10 federal holidays during fiscal 2004, which begins in October.

Commanders are authorized to give their soldiers extra holidays. Lt. Col. Kevin McKedy, USAREUR’s deputy secretary of the general staff, said the command has been adding them to federal holidays at least since the early 1990s to make up for others missed because of training and deployments.

In 1998, McKedy said, USAREUR began giving three additional days off in March, June and August — the three months without federal holidays.

Only active-duty soldiers get training holidays, though USAREUR commanders encourage civilians to take leave or compensatory time off on the same days.

Next year’s holidays are:

Oct. 13 — Columbus DayNov. 11 — Veterans DayNov. 27 — ThanksgivingDec. 25 — Christmas DayJan. 1, 2004 — New Year’s DayJan. 19, 2004 — Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthdayFeb. 16, 2004 — Presidents DayMay 31, 2004 — Memorial DayJuly 5, 2004 — Independence Day (observed day)Sept. 6, 2004 — Labor Day

The training holidays are:

Oct. 10, 2003 (supports Columbus Day)Nov. 10, 2003 (supports Veterans Day)Nov. 28, 2003 (supports Thanksgiving)Dec. 24, 2003 (Christmas Eve)Dec. 31, 2003 (New Year’s Eve)Jan. 16, 2004 (supports Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday)Feb. 13, 2004 (supports Presidents Day)March 15, 2004 (gives three-day weekend)April 2, 2004 (supports schools’ spring break)May 28, 2004 (supports Memorial Day)June 21, 2004 (provides three-day weekend)July 2, 2004 (supports Independence Day)Aug. 9, 2004 (provides three-day weekend)Sept. 3, 2004 (supports Labor Day)

As a reminder, there are several training holidays remaining this summer:

June 20 (provides three-day weekend)July 7 (supports Independence Day)Aug. 8 (provides three-day weekend)Aug. 29 (supports Labor Day)

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