Federal & Training Holidays (2024)

Servicemembers and their families look forward to yearly federal and training holidays. These often give them time for much need rest and relaxation. Here are FY 2024 Federal and Training Holidays, Family Days, and military 4-day weekend calendars.

Fiscal Year 2024 Federal Holidays

New Year’s Day — Sunday, Jan. 1, 2024, but observed Monday, Jan. 2, 2024
Martin Luther King Jr Day — Monday, Jan. 15, 2024
Presidents’ Day — Monday, Feb. 19, 2024
Memorial Day — Monday, May 27, 2024
Juneteenth — Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Independence Day — Thursday, July 4, 2024
Labor Day — Monday, Sept. 2, 2024
Columbus Day — Monday, Oct. 14, 2024
Veterans Day — Monday, Nov. 11, 2024
Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024
Christmas Day — Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024

Military & Veteran Discounts

Want 30+ Military / Veteran Discounts to use today? Enter your email for updates and we'll send them straight to your inbox!

Army Training Holiday Observances

These days vary by unit. There may be more or fewer training holidays than listed below. Soldiers should always confirm with their local chain of command whether or not they have a federal or training holiday off, as they are not guaranteed.

Fiscal 2024 Army Training Holiday Observances

Dec. 29, 2023 — Friday before. New Year’s Day
Jan. 12, 2024 — Friday before Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb. 16, 2024 — Friday before Washington’s Birthday
March 29, 2024 — USACASCOM Spring Holiday
May 24, 2024 — Friday before Memorial Day
June 20, 2024 — Thursday after Juneteenth National Independence Day
July 5, 2024 — Friday after Independence Day
Aug. 30, 2024 — Friday before Labor Day

Fiscal 2024 Army Four-Day Weekends

New Year’s weekend — Friday, Dec. 29, 2023-Monday, Jan. 2, 2024
Martin Luther King Jr Day — Friday, Jan. 12-Monday Jan. 15, 2024
Presidents’ Day weekend — Friday, Feb. 16-Monday, Feb. 19, 2024
Memorial Day weekend — Friday, May 24-Monday, May 27, 2024
Independence Day weekend — Thursday, July 4-Sunday, July 7, 2024 (observed starting on Thursday, July 4, 2024)
Labor Day weekend — Friday, August 30-Monday, Sept. 2, 2024

The U.S. Army observes U.S. federal holidays and typically authorizes a training holiday to coincide with each federal holiday to provide four-day weekends. These are called days of no-scheduled activity, or DONSAs, and can be impacted by training and mission requirements. Always confirm with your chain of command if you will have these or other days off.

Holiday Season/Holiday Block Leave

During the two weeks around the end-of-year holidays, the armed forces typically remain operational (half or full-day schedule based on mission requirements), except for Christmas and New Year’s days off and designated training holidays.

Army “Christmas Exodus”

The Army typically shuts down basic training and advanced individual training schools. The Navy and Air Force typically shut down job schools but do not shut down basic training.

The 10-day break generally starts a week before Christmas and lasts until a week after Christmas. The “exodus” allows drill sergeants and basic training staff members to spend the holidays with their families.

Soldiers may choose whether to take a break and go home or stay at basic training and work on details during the 10-day period. Any taken leave comes out of soldiers’ leave entitlement, and transportation costs home and back are not covered, according to a 2014 explanation from the U.S. Army Future Soldier Center.

Air Force 2024 Air Education and Training Command Family Days

Friday, May 24, 2024
Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Friday, July 5, 2024
Friday, Aug. 30, 2024
Friday, Oct. 11, 2024
Friday, Nov. 8, 2024
Friday, Nov. 29, 2024
Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024
Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024

Most offices on Air Force installations are closed on these days, and some services, including medical, recreation, shopping, and dining, are on restricted schedules. Many installations will close some gates as well. Check with your local installation for details. For military members required to perform duty during these holidays, commanders are encouraged to grant compensatory time off during the first week following the holiday, mission requirements permitting, according to a 2022 Air Force memo.

ADVERTIsem*nT

Navy Fiscal Year 2024 Holiday Observation Guidance

The following dates reflect the Navy’s 2024 holiday schedule. They will be updated when the Navy publishes its updated holiday observance calendar (usually in January).

New Year’s Day — Sunday, Jan. 1, 2024 (observed Dec. 29, 2023 – Jan. 1, 2024)
Martin Luther King Jr Day — Monday, Jan. 15, 2024 (Observed Jan. 12-Jan. 15, 2024)
Presidents’ Day — Monday, Feb. 19, 2024 (Observed Feb. 16-Feb. 19,2024)
Memorial Day — Monday, May 27, 2024 (Observed May 24 – May 27, 2024)
Juneteenth — Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Independence Day — Thursday, July 4, 2024 (Observed July 4 – July 7, 2024)
Labor Day — Monday, Sept. 2, 2024 (Observed Aug. 30-Sept. 2, 2024)
Columbus Day — Monday, Oct. 14, 2024 (Observed Oct. 11-Oct. 14, 2024)
Veterans Day — Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 (Observed Nov. 8-Nov. 11, 2024)
Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024 (Observed Nov. 28-Dec. 2, 2024)
Christmas Day — Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. (Observed Dec. 25-Dec. 26, 2024)
New Year’s Day — Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025

Always confirm with your chain of command if you will have these or other days off.

FAQs

Do you get federal holidays off in basic training? ›

The U.S. Army observes U.S. federal holidays and typically authorizes a training holiday to coincide with each federal holiday to provide four-day weekends.

Explore More ›

How many federal holidays do federal employees get off? ›

The Federal Government recognizes 11 holidays. However, several things can affect when you observe your holidays such as your alternative work schedule (if you work one) and if you work full time or part-time.

View Details ›

Why do I have to work on federal holidays? ›

Only the federal government is required to provide federal holidays as paid time off to employees. There's no legal requirement for private businesses to give federal holidays as paid time off to their employees.

Tell Me More ›

What happens during federal holidays? ›

Federal holidays are paid holidays the federal government recognizes each year during which non-essential government agencies close and their employees have a paid day off. In addition, banks, post offices, and schools typically close as well.

Learn More Now ›

What federal holidays do military get off? ›

LABOR DAY. Monday, 2 September 2024. Start: Friday, 30 August 2024 @ 1630. ...
COLUMBUS DAY. Monday, 14 October 2024. Start: Thursday, 10 October 2024 @ 1630. ...
VETERANS DAY. Monday, 11 November 2024. ...
THANKSGIVING DAY. Thursday, 28 November 2024. ...
CHRISTMAS DAY. Wednesday, 25 December 2024) ...
NEW YEAR'S DAY. Wednesday, 1 January 2025.

Get More Info Here ›

Do you get to go home for holidays during basic training? ›

Each holiday season the Army shuts down basic training and advanced individual training schools. The Army is the only branch of the military that honors the Holiday Block Leave for all recruits who are in basic training.

View Details ›

What is the federal rule on holiday pay? ›

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) does not require payment for time not worked, such as vacations or holidays (federal or otherwise). These benefits are generally a matter of agreement between an employer and an employee (or the employee's representative).

See Details ›

Is Juneteenth a paid federal holiday? ›

In 2021, the federal government recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday, and California followed suit in 2022.

Know More ›

How many years do you have to work for the federal government to get a pension? ›

You must work at least 5 years with the Federal Government before you are eligible for a FERS Federal Pension, and for every year you work, you will be eligible for at least 1% of your High-3 Average Salary History. Automatic deductions that can range from .

Know More ›

Can employers ignore federal holidays? ›

Private employers aren't required by federal law to give employees any of the federal holidays off. However, many of them offer at least some of the federal holidays as paid time off (PTO).

Keep Reading ›

Can I refuse to work on a federal holiday? ›

Can An Employer Force You to Work on a Holiday? In California, your employer is not required to offer you time off for a holiday. Typically, if the employer is open for business and you're scheduled to work, you must work even if it's a holiday.

See Details ›

How much should I get paid if I work on a federal holiday? ›

Unless your employer has a policy or practice of paying a premium rate for working on a holiday, or you are subject to a collective bargaining or employment agreement that contains such a term, your employer is only required to pay you your regular rate of pay for all the straight time hours worked on the holiday, and ...

What are examples of federal holidays? ›

What are Federal holidays?

New Year's Day (January 1).
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. ...
Washington's Birthday (Third Monday in February).
Memorial Day (Last Monday in May).
Juneteenth National Independence Day (June 19).
Independence Day (July 4).
Labor Day (First Monday in September).

More items...

View Details ›

Do federal holidays affect payroll? ›

Why Federal Holidays Matter For Your Payroll. The Federal Reserve and Automated Clearing House (the electronic network for financial transactions including business-to-business payments, direct deposit of payroll, consumer bills, Social Security, e-commerce payments, and tax payments) are closed on federal holidays.

Get More Info Here ›

How many paid holidays do federal employees get off? ›

Sick leave covers medical needs, care for family members, and the birth or adoption of a child. Federal employees get 11 days of paid holidays per year.

Show Me More ›

Is basic training considered federal active duty? ›

Active Duty Training (ADT)

Includes initial basic training, advanced individual training, annual training, or full-time attendance at an approved school.

Learn More Now ›

How many days off do you get after basic training? ›

Once you've completed all of your training, you'll be assigned to a unit at one of three locations: Vandenberg Air Force Base, California; Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado; or Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado. As for leave, you get up to 13 days of leave per year.

What happens on Christmas at basic training? ›

Holiday block leave is a unique program within the U.S. Army for Soldiers going through basic and Advanced Individual Training. “This marks a time when our trainees, drill sergeants and cadre are afforded a break from their training to reconnect with their families and their hometown communities,” said Maj. Gen.

Get More Info Here ›