It looks like I’m going to be in the middle of Basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood right around the time the chaggim roll around.  I’m most concerned about Yom Kippur.  Is it even possible to make it through a day of training while fasting?  Has anyone encountered the possibilty of actually taking Yom Kippur as an “off day"(minimal activity, ie. no PT)?

As the previous Lay Leader at Fort Leonard Wood, I can tell you that we have always had 100% support for our Jewish trainees in allowing them the opportunity to take the Yom Kippur day as a religious holiday.  This meant that their place of duty from 0800 to 2000 hours was the Central Iowa Chapel.  I have no doubt that this is still the case.  Please contact the Jewish Lay Leader: Emmanuel Fajardo as soon as you can once you inprocess to your unit.  Shalom!

In fact, having checked with one of the people at Ft Leonardwood, there are arrangements made for both Kol Nidrei and service on Yom Kippur as well as Rosh Hashanah.
Notify your chain of command now of your desire to attend services. According to my point of contact, there were 41 at services this past Friday night (Jews + battle buddies) so you are not alone at Ft Leonardwood.  It doesn’t hurt to establish your desire to attend services ahead of time....

and great to have you with us in the army

-Holly
Heidelberg Germany

Our newspaper just ran a touching article featuring the stories of four service people who observed the High Holidays fighting in WWII Europe, Korea, Vietnam and Iraq.

Jews in the Miltary: Holidays Under Fire
http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=16421

Hope you can stop and check it out!

Whether or not you decide to fast is a personal choice.  HOWEVER, allow me to say that you must consider how the fast will affect your performance the day after your fast regardless of your having broken the fast 24 hours later.  With the rigor of basic training and the related ramp up of your metabolism, your body will literally be starving for nutrition and you will feel it.  Ask yourself, how often do you now perform those taks that will be imposed on you at basic training on a daily basis: never or rarely at most.  The day after a fast is a day of phyiscla recovery for anyone, let alone a Soldier on a rigorous training schedule.  The biggest concern is for your safety.  Since you don’t know the limits of your body based on participation in basic training activities yet, I (as a nurse) and many Rabbis would discourage you from participating in the fast.  Imagine yourself at the top of your repelling tower the day after your fast and potentially feeling dizzy.  Or on the firing range with a lodaded weapon and passing out.  At every High Holiday, we always provided our Soldiers with some amount of nutrition during the fast for their own safety.  Consider this, please - choose life.

The answer to your original question is “no.” You will not be permitted a day off to fast, but rather you will be permitted a day off to attend the Yom Kippur service (essentially starting from the evening before to the breaking of the fast meal).  Please ensure proper coordinatioin through your chain of command and the Jewish Lay Leader or Chaplain.