By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Pew PatriotsPew PatriotsPew Patriots
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Reading: Air Force revokes four-day weekends for troops
Share
Font ResizerAa
Pew PatriotsPew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Search
  • Home
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Guns and Gear
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
Air Force revokes four-day weekends for troops
Tactical

Air Force revokes four-day weekends for troops

Jimmie Dempsey
Last updated: April 9, 2025 6:51 pm
Jimmie Dempsey Published April 9, 2025
Share
SHARE

The Air Force on Monday revoked a policy providing troops extra time off around holidays, saying the widespread leave known as “Family Days” hurt the department’s ability to carry out its missions.

The Air Force has in the past granted airmen and guardians those extra days off, usually in conjunction with a holiday that falls on a Thursday, Friday or Monday. This gives troops a regular series of four-day weekends — roughly one a month — to spend as they wish.

In a Feb. 11 memo cracking down on civilian employees’ use of Family Days and announcing a broader review of the policy, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Gwendolyn DeFilippi said these days “recognize our teams’ contributions to the mission and our families’ enduring support of our efforts.” Meetings and scheduled activities are often minimized during such days, DeFilippi said then.

But in an April 7 memo that leaked online, Acting Air Force Secretary Gary Ashworth said the more generous leave policy for troops won’t work with the military’s new focus on sharpening its effectiveness.

“The Department of the Air Force is focused on restoring lethality and readiness to our force,” Ashworth said in the memo, first posted Tuesday by the unofficial Air Force amn/nco/snco Facebook page. “Providing a blanket designation of pass days, often called family days, to align with all eleven federal holidays throughout the year does not support our ability to execute the mission with excellence while maintaining our competitive advantage.”

An Air Force official confirmed the memo is genuine.

Ashworth advised commanders across the services to review their leave policies to ensure they align with readiness. Leaders are allowed to grant passes to service members at their discretion, Ashworth said, when that time off doesn’t harm operational missions and warfighting requirements.

Reaction to the memo on the amn/nco/snco Facebook page was mixed. Some commenters said certain key airmen, such as security forces, rarely received extra days off and that the mission needs to come first.

Others doubted canceling this time off would measurably improve lethality and readiness and said it would harm morale and retention.

“This is disappointing,” one commenter said. “Big Air Force will mandate that you show up and do busywork for 8-12 hours a day after Christmas and then wonder why you don’t want to reenlist.”

Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.

Read the full article here

You Might Also Like

First Look: Galco Masterbilt Master Agent Holster

Army enlisted leader sees ‘transformation’ at work in brigade visit

Trump plans to change Veterans Day into ‘Victory Day for World War I’

Navy fires commanding officer of Navy Reserve Center Cheyenne

First Look: Mossberg 590R and 590RM Shotguns

Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

We Recommend
Maryland police frustrated after teen accused in more than 100 car break-ins released within hours of arrest
News

Maryland police frustrated after teen accused in more than 100 car break-ins released within hours of arrest

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey May 30, 2025
The Middle Class Is Collapsing: Nearly 1 Out Of Every 4 Americans Is Now “Functionally Unemployed”
Who to watch as Karen Read’s defense steps up to plate – and it’s not slugger Alan Jackson
State Department Claims The U.S. Will Apply “Maximum Pressure” On Russia
Anthony Weiner discusses sexting scandal while attempting political comeback, says ‘women are crazy about me’
Trump Administration Cancels $766 Million Moderna Flu Vaccine Contract
President Trump teases ‘last day, but not really’ for Elon Musk at DOGE: Oval Office presser set for Friday
News

President Trump teases ‘last day, but not really’ for Elon Musk at DOGE: Oval Office presser set for Friday

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey May 30, 2025
Moscow Claims Ukraine Is Training “Terror Groups” In Africa
Prepping & Survival

Moscow Claims Ukraine Is Training “Terror Groups” In Africa

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey May 30, 2025
Steve Sarkisian denies claims Texas spent excessively to build roster, cites ‘irresponsible reporting’
News

Steve Sarkisian denies claims Texas spent excessively to build roster, cites ‘irresponsible reporting’

Jimmie Dempsey Jimmie Dempsey May 30, 2025
Pew Patriots
  • News
  • Tactical
  • Prepping & Survival
  • Videos
  • Guns and Gear
2024 © Pew Patriots. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?