Soldiers declare 'Victory' over block leave

Fort Jackson Soldiers and leaders stayed up early Saturday morning to ensure Soldiers in Training were on the right buses to go home for Victory Block Leave.

"I'm excited to be seeing my Family," said Pvt. Dominic Fonseca, on his way home before heading to Fort Huachuca, Arizona for Military Intelligence Systems Maintainer/Integrator training. "I live in Tucson (Arizona), so my Advanced Individual Training is only like an hour away. That's nice."

Victory Block Leave, or exodus, is a time-honored tradition where Soldiers, drill sergeants and unit cadre take a break from basic combat training to spend two weeks with their Families before returning to post to start training again.

Roughly 8,000 Soldiers would transition through the Solomon Center on post where they would be separated based on when their travel home would begin. For instance, Soldiers flying from Charlotte at a certain time would be on one bus, while others leaving from Columbia Metropolitan Airport would board a different one.

Pvt. Taylor Pippin, who is also heading to Fort Huachuca after VBL but to study to become an unmanned aerial vehicle pilot, said it was "amazing" that he was finally done with training and heading home.

Pippin was among a few who helped quickly load duffel bags onto the awaiting transportation to help other Soldiers to quickly load buses.

Fonseca and his battle buddy, Pvt. Brendan Wilson, had just graduated basic combat training with 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment.

Now that basic combat training is done, the Soldiers said they feel relieved it is behind them.

"I am relieved and excited that I actually get to go to AIT to show what I have learned," said the 18-year-old Fonseca.

Fonseca said another thing he is looking forward to is being warm over the holidays.

"That's one of the things I miss -- being warm in the winter."

Pvt. Nicholas Ryan, an 18-year-old from Long Island, New York, said he looks forward to heading north for the holidays despite cold temperatures.

"It might be freezing, but it's worth it," he said.

Ryan will be heading back to Jackson, where he enjoyed "throwing grenades and firing his M16" after block leave ends. Having just graduated himself, he will be returning to start Financial Management Technician Training at the Soldier Support Institute.