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There will be fewer troops on the base at Fort Jackson over the next two weeks. They’re heading home for the holidays.

Thursday morning troops lined up to load buses going to the airport and all over the country.

Spokesman Pat Jones says nearly 11,000 troops are going on holiday leave and will return after the new year.

Some of the soldiers have not seen their families in months according to Major Jasper Rogers.

“This will be the first time that they've had an opportunity to take leave and go home and see their loved ones and so it represents a wonderful opportunity for them,” Rogers said.

Many of the soldiers had not gone to sleep the night before but still mustered up a smile as they loaded buses.

Private Sylvia Powells was headed to Jackson, Mich. Powells says there is nothing like the love of family, something she’s been missing lately.

“The best gift I could get for Christmas would be for them to tell me I can stay home for another two weeks,” Powells said.

Another Private, Justin Wells, is going to Pittsburgh. Wells said he can’t wait to hug his mother and girlfriend, and there is another thing on his agenda, “Yeah sleep and not get woken up, that's the big thing right there."

Fort Jackson spokesman Pat Jones says sleep is a welcome thing when soldiers are going through training.