A Soldier's graduation from basic combat training is a momentous occasion in their lives and for their friends and families. This page has general information about basic combat training family day and  graduation ceremonies as well as answers to frequently asked questions. 

For information about a specific graduation, please visit that unit's website. You can find a list of battalion websites here. 

Please be aware while accessing Fort Jackson for family day and graduation that traffic laws are different than off post. Additionally there are areas of the installation you are not authorized to access. The Fort Jackson Family day and Graduation Visitor's Guide has more detailed information on accessing the installation as well as how to navigate to the ceremonies once on post. 

If you have questions not answered here or questions about advanced individual training graduations please contact us at fortjacksonbctinfo@army.mil  

family members and friends tap out their Soldier an embrace for the first time since they left for training at Fort Jackson.Family Day Ceremony Details 

Family Day is the day before Graduation and is the first opportunity families will have to see and spend time with their Soldier since they arrived at Fort Jackson for training. The day begins with a short ceremony which includes the Soldier Induction Ceremony in which the Soldiers will re-affirm their Oath of Enlistment and be welcomed into the Army profession as Soldiers by their drill sergeants as they don the Army insignia on their left sleeve for the first time. After the ceremony, family and friends will be allowed on the field to tap out their Soldier from formation and spend the rest of the day on post. 

   Day: Family Day is typically on a Wednesday, occasionally they will occur on a different day when affected by a federal holiday. 

   Time:  Family Day ceremonies start at 9 a.m. unless affected by inclement weather. The gates to the parking lot at the parade field typically open at either 6 or 7 a.m. depending on the size of the graduating unit. 

   Length:  Family Day ceremonies last roughly 20-30 minutes. 

   Weather:  Family Day ceremonies will occur outdoors in a wide range of weather conditions. Please check the weather forecast and plan accordingly. It may be very cold, very hot and it may also be raining. Should the weather be too severe, the unit's inclement weather plan will be released on the Fort Jackson Facebook page. www.facebook.com/fortjackson

   After the ceremony:  The moment everyone has waited 10 weeks to experience, after the ceremony has concluded you will be released to the field to locate your Soldier and tap them out. Soldiers will be lined up by their company so it's important you know your Soldier's unit information in order to locate them. Typically, graduating Soldiers are given an on-post pass for the remainder of Family Day. There are many facilities, parks and other activities on the installation where you can spend the day with your Soldier. Each unit will issue a time that the Soldiers must report back to their barracks. It is important that you have your Soldier back at the required time. You do not want to do anything that will jeopardize your Soldiers ability to participate in their graduation ceremony. 

   Planning your visit: The Fort Jackson Family Day and Graduation Visitor's Guide has more information to help you plan your visit including information on accessing the installation, required documentation, navigating around, and things to do on post. To access the visitor's guide click here. 

three images from Fort Jackson Family Day Ceremonies
Soldiers stand in formation for their graduation ceremonyGraduation Ceremony Details
   Day: Graduations typically occur on a Thursday, occasionally they will occur on a                              different day when affected by a federal holiday. 
   Time: Graduation ceremonies start at 9 a.m. unless affected by inclement weather. The                   gates to the parking lot at the parade field typically open at either 6 or 7 a.m.                            depending on the size of the graduating unit. 
   Length: Graduation ceremonies last roughly 50 minutes. 
   Weather: Graduation ceremonies will occur outdoors in a wide range of weather                                        conditions. Please check the weather forecast and plan accordingly. It may be                        very cold, very hot and it may also be raining. 
   After the ceremony: Typically, graduating Soldiers are given an off-post pass for the remainder of the day. There are many restaurants, parks and other activities in the Columbia area off the installation where you can spend the day with your newly graduated Soldier. Each unit will issue a time that the Soldiers must report back to their barracks and begin preparing to ship to their advanced individual training. It is important that you have your Soldier back at the required time. 
Note: Graduating Soldiers must stay within a 25 mile radius of Fort Jackson during their off post pass. *
   Planning your visit: The Fort Jackson Family Day and Graduation Visitor's Guide has more information to help you plan your visit including information on accessing the installation, required documentation, navigating around, and things to do on post. To access the visitor's guide click here. 
*Distance restriction and requirement to report back to the barracks do not apply to those graduating Soldiers traveling to their advanced individual training (AIT) by privately owned vehicle (POV). For more on POV travel to AIT see our basic combat training information page.
Basic Rules to Follow
      1. Graduating Soldiers must remain in uniform

     Whether on or off post, on family day and graduation, graduating Soldiers           must remain in uniform at all times.

      2. No Driving

     Graduating Soldiers are not authorized to drive.

      3. No alcohol or tobacco(including vape)

     Graduating Soldiers are not authorized to consume alcohol or tobacco,               including vapes.

      4. No public displays of affection

     After you leave the parade field Soldiers in uniform must maintain their               military bearing at all times. Please refrain from public displays of affection         while out and about on or off post.

Live Stream of Ceremonies

      Fort Jackson live-streams the Basic Combat Training graduations free of charge.

      The live streams will appear on the Fort Jackson Facebook page approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

      There are fake accounts that try to scam viewers by posting links in comments claiming to be a live stream. Do not click these links. The only place to view the live stream is on the Fort Jackson Facebook page.

      If there are technical difficulties and we are unable to live-stream the ceremony, we will post the video in its entirety later that day. 

     We do not stream the Family Day ceremony.

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grad-image2.jpgWe Make American Soldiers
Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I know my trainee is going to graduate?

    Answer: Your trainee is responsible for updating you on their progress and status when given the opportunity. Do not contact the unit asking if your trainee will            graduate. Trainees will typically complete all requirements for graduating approximately 10-12 days prior to graduation.

2. I've already made travel arrangements, can I still come spend family day with my trainee even if they are not graduating?

    Answer: No, only trainees who have completed all requirements and are in good standing will be allowed to participate in family day activities. We highly                          encourage everyone to make reservations that are fully refundable in the event something prevents their trainee from graduating on their anticipated date.

3. My trainee is not going to graduate when expected, how can I find out their new graduation date?

    Answer: Your trainee is responsible for notifying you of any changes to their graduation timeline. Their new tentative graduation date will depend on which                    requirements they still need to complete in order to graduate.

4. How many people can attend family day and graduation?

    Answer: There is currently no limit to the number of people who can attend family day or graduation.

5. What is the address for the ceremony?

    Answer: Family day and graduation ceremonies typically occur at Hilton Field. There are blue lines painted on the roads from each gate that will lead you to Hilton Field. We ask that you follow these lines and do not use GPS navigation to get to the field as GPS may try to take you through a section of the installation that you are not authorized to access.

6. What happens to graduating Soldiers who do not have anyone attending Family day or Graduation?

    Answer: Graduating Soldiers who do not have anyone attending Family Day or Graduation may spend the day with a battle buddy or adopted by a battle buddy's family.

7. We won't arrive in time to see the Family Day ceremony, can we still spend the rest of the day with our graduating Soldier?

    Answer: Yes, if you cannot arrive until after the Family Day ceremony, you will be able to make arrangements to connect with you Soldier later in the day and spend the remainder of their pass with them on the installation. They must still report to their barracks at the designated time.

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