Originally Posted by
crewdawg
To add to GF post, it simply says an APD "may" be denied during those days, not that it will be. I've had trips dropped over those days and know others who've gotten Christmas off with an APD. I wouldn't expect it to happen all the time, but put it in and let it ride, it may randomly drop as the date approaches.
To add to this, an APD request is processed before any normal personal drop requests. An APD will be granted 100% of the time, even on holiday blackouts, if, when the PCS process gets to your request, there is positive reserve coverage on the day(s) you are requesting. This can be a method to "jump the line" so to speak when it comes to being the first to get the holiday off. Many times if coverage is hovering right at even or -1 if you let the APD request ride eventually you might get lucky and during one PCS run coverage jumps to +1 and you get your APD approved.