You have the date, the tickets or passes are sorted, and the travel is booked. Now come the questions every family asks the week before: what do we wear, what can we bring, where do we park, and how does the day actually work?
This article answers those, using what each training command tells families on its own pages. For each branch's schedule, guest list deadline and ID rules, start with our branch-by-branch graduation article.
Where this comes from: the graduation and visitor pages of Navy Recruit Training Command, both Marine Corps Recruit Depots and their family services offices, Air Force Basic Military Training's family FAQ (updated September 2026), Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, and Fort Jackson's Family Day and Graduation Visitor's Guide as the Army example. Rules change, so check your graduate's own training command page the week you travel.
The Short Answer
Wear something comfortable and respectful, with good walking shoes and layers for the weather. Bring physical ID, a small bag at most, sunscreen or a rain jacket, water and a charged phone. Leave weapons, alcohol, marijuana, pets and big bags at home or in the car. Plan to arrive hours earlier than feels necessary, and book lodging as soon as you know the date.
What to Wear
There is no dress code for civilian guests at any branch. The Air Force says only that clothing that is "lewd, offensive, or otherwise distracts from the ceremony" is frowned upon, and Fort Jackson does not allow items with offensive images or words. Parris Island's family office recommends business casual, and many families like to dress up a little for the photos.
What matters more is comfort:
- Shoes you can walk in. Parris Island warns that you "will be doing a lot of walking," from parking areas and up the stairs of the reviewing stands. At Lackland, guests walk across a bridge or pedestrian walkway to the parade field, and drop-off points are about 0.7 miles from the ceremony.
- Layers for the weather. Most ceremonies are outdoors, and you will stand in line at the gate first. Great Lakes sits on Lake Michigan, Fort Jackson is hot and humid in summer, and South Carolina and Texas summers are brutal on bleachers. Cape May moves indoors from about October to May.
- Sun and rain protection. A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, or a compact rain jacket. Umbrellas block views in the stands, so a jacket is kinder to the people behind you.
- Veterans and service members. Current and former service members may wear their uniform under their own branch's rules. The Navy asks military guests to wear service dress or their branch's equivalent, and Parris Island suggests a uniform as formal as or more formal than the graduates'.
What to Bring
- Physical ID for every adult. Digital licenses and photocopies are refused at Parris Island and Fort Jackson. A REAL ID or passport is the safest choice everywhere.
- Your ticket or pass. Navy guests need the ticket picked up off base, Air Force guests the pass their trainee mailed home, and Army guests a visitor pass applied for online.
- Vehicle paperwork. The driver needs a license, registration and proof of insurance, or the rental agreement. Have it all out before you reach the gate; the Coast Guard warns that cars that are not ready will be sent back to the end of the line.
- A charged phone and a battery pack. Your graduate may need to reach you if their release time or liberty plans change, and plans often do.
- Water and a snack. Days start very early. Food and drink are sold on every base, but lines are long at peak times.
- Cash or a card for extras. Every base has vendors, exchanges and gift shops. Some, like San Diego's depot, are partly cashless.
Thinking about a gift? Small is better. The Air Force says graduates can accept cards and letters but cannot take large items, electronics or food back to their dorms, and must be able to carry everything they own to their next school. Our article on gifts for someone in boot camp covers what actually helps.
What to Leave in the Car, or at Home
Every person, bag and vehicle can be searched, and most ceremonies use metal detectors. Never bring weapons, ammunition, alcohol, illegal drugs or marijuana onto a base, even if it is legal in your state; it can get your whole car turned away. Beyond that, the rules vary by branch:
| Branch | Ceremony rules for families |
|---|---|
| Army (Fort Jackson) | No signs, banners, balloons, air horns or noise makers in the stands. No pets at Hilton Field, and they cannot be left in the car. Pepper spray and knives are banned on post. |
| Navy | Small bag, diaper bag or camera bag only. No backpacks, large bags, luggage, signs, banners, large tripods, gift bags or flowers. Strollers are discouraged. |
| Marine Corps | Bags searched with metal detectors at Parris Island's parade deck. San Diego bans knives over 3 inches, alcohol and glass bottles, and tents or canopies outside its tailgate lot. |
| Air Force | No bag restrictions. Banners in good taste may hang on bleacher railings. No noise makers, and no alcohol at events. |
| Coast Guard | Leave bags of every kind, including purses, in the car. No pets on base. |
Getting There and Parking
Traffic and security lines are the biggest surprise for most families. A few things the bases themselves warn about:
- Do not trust your GPS blindly. San Diego says navigation apps will send you to the wrong gate; all visitors use Gate 5 on Washington Street. Fort Jackson asks you to follow the blue lines painted from each gate to Hilton Field rather than your GPS. For the Navy, enter the welcome center's street address, not "Naval Station Great Lakes."
- Expect delays. Parris Island has one road on and off the island and warns of traffic delays of up to 45 minutes; it asks families to be at the gate by 5 a.m. The Navy recommends arriving at least an hour and a half before the ceremony, and its doors close on time.
- Rideshares have limits. Navy rideshares and taxis cannot come on base and drop off by the Gate 8 turnstile next to the Great Lakes Metra station, about a quarter mile from the ceremony. At Lackland they drop off at the Valley Hi or Luke East visitor centers, about 0.7 miles away. San Diego lets rideshares in after a quick vehicle check.
- Follow the parking staff. Every base directs graduation traffic to set lots. Parris Island and San Diego run free trams or shuttles between parking and events.
- Need accessible parking? Bring your state disability placard. Fort Jackson reserves the front row of the bleachers for guests with accessibility needs, and Lackland runs a shuttle on Thursday. Both Marine depots rent wheelchairs and strollers, and Parris Island also rents scooters and shade canopies.
- Mind the base driving rules. No handheld phone use while driving, seat belts for everyone, and low speed limits that are enforced. At Fort Jackson, some roads close from 6 to 7 a.m. for physical training.
Where to Stay
Graduation weeks fill hotels near every training base, so book refundable rooms as soon as you know the date. Most families stay off base, but here is what each command offers:
- Army (Fort Jackson): four on-post hotels, booked only through IHG Army Hotels. Soldiers on orders get priority and can bump a family reservation. Fort Jackson also notes that off-post hotels with "Fort Jackson" in their names are simply nearby. The on-post Victory Travel office (803-751-1400) can help.
- Navy (Great Lakes): the Navy does not provide lodging or transportation. Naval Station Great Lakes' MWR office lists hotels and transport at NavyLifeGL.com.
- Marine Corps (Parris Island): the Inns of the Corps is about 8 miles away at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, and the Osprey Inn on the depot has a few rooms on a space-available basis. The closest airports are Savannah/Hilton Head and Charleston, and the depot's travel office (843-228-3557) can book for you.
- Marine Corps (San Diego): the depot sits next to San Diego International Airport. Camp Pendleton's Latitudes Travel (760-763-3183) helps families book.
- Air Force (Lackland): plan for San Antonio hotels and pick one with an easy route to the Selfridge West or Valley Hi gate, the two gates for driving guests.
- Coast Guard (Cape May): no lodging is provided. The training center points families to the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce, and some local inns advertise discounts for Coast Guard families.
How the Day Runs
Expect an early, long and emotional day. Some practical points families wish they had known:
- You may not spot your recruit right away. Graduates in formation all look alike. San Diego posts platoon numbers near the parade deck, and Fort Jackson's staff point you to the best seats for each company. If you know their platoon, flight or division number, bring it.
- Seats go fast. Fort Jackson does not let you save seats for people still in the security line, so a large group may need to split up.
- Photograph your graduate, not the trainees. Fort Jackson and Cape May both ask families not to take pictures of recruits still in training.
- Your graduate cannot drive. The Navy and Fort Jackson both bar new graduates from operating vehicles, so plan for a family member to do all the driving.
- Liberty has rules. Fort Jackson graduates usually stay in uniform within 25 miles. Air Force graduates on town pass stay within an hour of Lackland and must be back by 8 p.m. Wednesday and 6 p.m. Thursday. Marines must stay on the depot on Family Day. Getting them back late can cost them the next day's liberty, so keep an eye on the clock.
- Let them eat. After weeks of chow hall food, many graduates want a favorite meal more than anything. Fort Jackson lets families picnic and grill on post, and every base has restaurants.
- Go easy on the plans. Graduates are proud, tired and often a little overwhelmed. A quiet meal and time to talk can mean more than a packed itinerary.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Bottom Line
Graduation day rewards families who arrive early, travel light and dress for walking and weather. Check your graduate's training command page the week you go, keep the ID and passes in one place, and leave room in the day for the part that matters: seeing them again.