Fort Jackson, S.C. -- Fort Jackson VICTORY BLOCK LEAVE is from Dec. 19, 2013 until Jan. 3, 2014. Soldiers may travel by bus, rail, air, or with family members if traveling in a privately owned vehicle (POV).
Travel by Privately Owned Vehicle (POV):
Soldiers may depart with immediate family members between noon and 10 p.m. December 18th. Soldiers returning to Fort Jackson must return no later than 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 3.
Travel by commercial train, plane or bus:
Soldiers will be taken to Victory Travel where an agent will assist with ticket purchasing.
Soldiers who joined the Army before Nov. 1 are responsible for purchasing their own ticket.
Soldiers who joined the Army on or after Nov. 1 can sign for the cost of their ticket, up to $700.00. The cost of the ticket will be collected from their January mid-month pay as a one-time collection.
Family members interested in purchasing tickets on their own are strongly encouraged to make arrangements and purchase tickets ONLY through the Fort Jackson Travel Office (Victory Travel) to avoid scheduling problems. Many Soldiers whose family members (or other loved ones) book travel and buy tickets through the Internet, airline sales offices or other travel outlets experience problems. Fixing incorrect departure times, return times and locations often result in penalties or additional fees being paid by Soldiers and their families.
Victory Travel has years of experience dealing with Soldiers traveling home for Block Leave and a strong working relationship with servicing travel outlets.
Family members can purchase tickets by credit card by contacting Victory Travel at 1-800-221-3503, via email or by accessing the Victory Travel website.
Email: jackson.dfmwr.victorytravel@us.army.mil Website: www.fortjacksonmwr.com/travel
The ticket will be held for your Soldier until their unit's scheduled ticket sales session.
Victory Travel is not responsible for duplicate bookings. If a family member plans to purchase a ticket for his or her Soldier, the Soldier needs to know not to purchase a ticket!
Travel by Bus:
Soldiers traveling by direct destination bus will depart after 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 19 and return and sign in to Fort Jackson no later than 11:59 p.m. Jan. 3.
Travel by Rail:
Only Soldiers traveling by rail are authorized to return to Fort Jackson later than 11:59 p.m. Jan. 3.
Soldiers depart Fort Jackson on chartered buses to the Columbia Amtrak station.
Columbia AMTRAK Southbound schedule leaves at 1:44 a.m. on Dec. 19 and returns at 4:08 a.m. on Jan. 4. Columbia AMTRAK's northbound schedule leaves at 4:08 a.m. on Dec. 19 and returns at 1:44 a.m. on Jan. 4
NOTE: Both returns on AMTRAK do not arrive into Columbia until January 4, 2013.
Soldiers traveling by rail may depart on Dec. 19. The return rail ticket will show a scheduled arrival in Columbia on 04 January 2013. Amtrak is the only exception for arrivals after Jan. 4, 2014.
Travel by Air:
Airline tickets are non-refundable and penalties have to be paid if they are changed. Family members are encouraged to let their Soldier purchase his/her ticket through the on-post Fort Jackson travel office (Victory Travel) to avoid problems.
The primary airport for Fort Jackson is Columbia Metropolitan Airport in West Columbia.
Soldiers traveling by air may depart from Columbia on Dec. 19. Soldiers must purchase a special shuttle bus ticket from the Fort Jackson travel office. This shuttle bus will take Soldiers from Fort Jackson to the Columbia Airport and for those Soldiers who are identified to return to Fort Jackson at the end of Block Leave.
Two other airports are also available for Soldiers traveling on Block Leave: Charlotte, N.C. Douglas International Airport, which is 90 miles from Fort Jackson and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, which is 200 miles from Fort Jackson.
Charlotte flights must be scheduled for departure after 12:01 a.m. on December 19, 2013 and must return no later 11:59 p.m. January 3, 2014. Soldiers must purchase a special charter bus ticket from the Fort Jackson Travel office. This special charter bus will take Soldiers from Fort Jackson to Charlotte Douglas International Airport and for those Soldiers who are identified to return to Fort Jackson at the end of Block Leave.
Atlanta flights must be scheduled for departure after 12:01 a.m. on December 19, 2013 and must return no later than 11:59 p.m. January 3, 2014. Soldiers must purchase a special charter bus ticket from the Fort Jackson travel office. This special charter bus will take Soldiers from Fort Jackson to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and for those Soldiers who are identified to return to Fort Jackson at the end of Block Leave.
Departures WILL ONLY be from the Columbia, Charlotte and Atlanta International airports. No other airports are authorized for soldiers departing from Fort Jackson.
Soldiers returning from Victory Block Leave prior to 8:00 a.m. on Jan. 3, 2013 will report to the Holdover Unit, 3rd Battalion, 60thh Infantry Regiment, for the duration of Block Leave.
If a Soldier misses his/her scheduled return due to weather, medical or other reasons, he/she must contact his/her chain of command immediately. Soldiers will return to Fort Jackson ASAP and upon arrival to Columbia Amtrak or Columbia Bus station or Columbia Airport, the Soldier's unit will pick them up. If a Soldier arrives to either Charlotte or Atlanta after the scheduled return, the soldier will make his/her way to the nearest Greyhound bus station for movement to the Columbia bus station.
Final Note: Soldiers will be provided with detailed instructions on how to conduct him or herself while on leave. Soldiers will also be given a special "Block Leave Edition" of The Fort Jackson Leader newspaper containing information designed to help them enjoy a well-deserved break, while adhering to Army standards and values.
The window for sending mail to Trainees who are staying on Fort Jackson during VBL is 18 - 27 December. Anything received after 2 January will be returned to sender.
The mailing address for Soldiers staying on Fort Jackson is:
PVT John or Jane Smith
ATTN: Holdover Company
3-60th IN REGT
5482 Jackson BLVD
Fort Jackson, SC 29207
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