I've got a list of FOMC dates in an array that I can reference. What I would like to do is backtest some strategies by buying "X" number of trading days before the FOMC date. The problem I run into is something like this most recent FOMC date of "1220615".

If I'm trying to buy 3 trading days prior, that would be the 10th (1220610), but adding 3 to the date doesn't work as the next dates go from "1220613" to "1220616" skipping "1220615".

I know this can be done as I've seen traders backtest this strategy.

Since TS/EL goes bar by bar, how can I get the Date of "X" bars (in this case 3) in the future?
Or is there a better way to handle this?

(FYI I'm still pretty new to EL programing)

Maybe use hours continuous mkts break into bigger chunks or smaller chunks
Back testing for me is usually just visual.

Back testing has zero mkt impact....it is history

Just because Germany was defeated in WW2 doesn't mean it will be
Defeated in ww3.

Factors imo way beyond a trading chart at work along with your
Chart. If only trading was as linear as fomc did this so mkt did that

Imagine every trade giving

All my opinion yours is as good if not better than mine

If back testing consistently worked then no one would ever need to interpret news or chartsorbsupply n demand

Not discouraging you because lots to be learned with every test and also what is your hypothes

CreativelyChris 

I've got a list of FOMC dates in an array that I can reference

How about changing the dates in the array so that they are 3 days before the FOMC rather than the FOMC itself?