After the ceremony, your Soldier is released to you for the rest of the day. Here is how the pass works at Fort Benning: on-post vs. off-post, what your Soldier can wear, when to bring them back, and what to confirm with the unit before you plan.
One distinction up front: the Family Day pass covers your Soldier leaving with you, while the AIE pass covers you getting on post at all. Starting August 1, 2026 the Army’s AIE system (pass.aie.army.mil) requires visitors without a DoD ID to pre-register, and how gate entry works today varies by post, so see the common questions below and register before you travel.
Released once the Family Day formation ends, typically mid-morning.
Confirm with your Soldier’s unit. Return 15 minutes before the announced time.
On-post vs. off-post is set by the battalion or company, not the garrison. Confirm with the unit before making plans.
What the pass actually is
The Family Day pass is a day-pass issued by the company command. It runs from the end of the ceremony until recall. During that window, your Soldier is released into your care.
This is not a weekend pass. Your Soldier is still under orders. The pass governs where they can go, what they can do, and when they must be back. At graduation the following day, they report back into formation before the parade. They are not a free civilian yet.
The on-post vs. off-post distinction is set by the battalion, not the garrison. Your Soldier’s company is the source of truth.
Where you can go
You stay on Benning grounds. The on-post PX, on-post food options, and the grounds around the ceremony venue are accessible. Your Soldier will be in uniform. Bring them food they have been missing.
If the company grants an off-post pass, you can drive into Columbus. Most families use the time for one sit-down meal. Don’t over-schedule. Recall comes fast.
Confirm before you plan
If you book a restaurant off-post and the company issues only an on-post pass, you’ll have to cancel. Ask your Soldier to find out from their drill sergeant before the ceremony if possible.
Rideshares are permitted on-post at Fort Benning, but drivers need a permit and wait times in Columbus can be longer than in larger cities. A rental car (opens in new tab) or family vehicle is more reliable.
When to bring them back
Recall time is set by the company and announced at or before the ceremony. Ask your Soldier to find out from their drill sergeant ahead of time. A typical Family Day recall is in the late afternoon.
A late return is not just your Soldier’s problem. If one Soldier is missing at recall, the whole company stands at formation waiting. Show up on time.
What happens if they’re late: Consequences vary by company policy. Don’t find out the hard way. Just be on time.
Rules for the pass
Uniform
Your Soldier stays in Army Combat Uniform for the Family Day pass. Do not bring a change of clothes; changing out of uniform during the pass is a violation of pass conditions. Confirm with the unit if you have heard otherwise from another family.
Alcohol
No alcohol during the Family Day pass, regardless of age. Pass conditions set by the company govern the pass window. Don’t buy it for them or put it in front of them.
Cell phone
Most companies return phones before or during Family Day. If your Soldier has theirs, this is often the first unrestricted phone time they’ve had. Expect them to want to call or text people who are not there.
Where to confirm the specifics
Your Soldier’s company first sergeant or drill sergeant is the right source for recall time, pass type, and any Fort Benning-specific rules. The Fort Benning garrison website is the official fallback for public access information.
Public Affairs contact: 706-545-5592 / usarmy.moore.imcom.mbx.pao@army.mil.
Quick answers
- What should we do with our Soldier during the Family Day pass?
- Keep it simple. Your Soldier has been on a tight schedule and what they want most is a real meal, rest, and time with you, not a packed itinerary. The most common plan is a sit-down lunch at a restaurant they have been missing, a stop for anything they need (phone, civilian comforts, snacks), and quiet time to talk. Many families stay close to post because the pass window is short and the Soldier usually has to be back by a set recall time. Confirm your Soldier's exact pass hours and whether they are allowed off-post before you book anything. Pass rules vary by post and by where the Soldier is in training.
- Can I take my Soldier off post during the Family Day pass?
- Most units issue an on-post-only pass for Family Day, so plan to spend the day together at on-post facilities like the PX and dining options. Some battalions grant an off-post pass instead, with a defined geographic radius, a firm recall time, and conduct rules (proper uniform, no alcohol, no driving in many cases). Your Soldier will be briefed on exactly which pass they have, so confirm directly with your Soldier before you plan to leave the area.
- What is the AIE pass, and do I need it for Family Day or graduation?
- AIE (Automated Installation Entry) is the Army's online visitor background-check system at pass.aie.army.mil. Starting August 1, 2026, any visitor without a DoD ID must pre-register there before arriving; the NCIC background check can take 3 to 30 business days, so do this weeks ahead, not during travel week. How much this affects your gate experience varies by post today: Fort Sill already requires every adult (18+) to either use the dedicated graduation-morning visitor lane or pre-register online at least 24 hours in advance. Fort Jackson's official visitor guide confirms the same shift: beginning August 1, 2026, every visitor 18 or older needs an AIE visitor's pass to access the installation, explicitly including Family Day and Graduation, ending the walk-up Visitor Control Center option families have used until now. Fort Leonard Wood and Fort Benning do not currently require AIE pre-registration for Family Day or Graduation: Leonard Wood admits US citizens with a valid state ID and no pre-obtained pass, and Benning does not currently enforce REAL ID requirements at the gate. Whether their walk-up options continue once the August 2026 mandate is in effect has not been confirmed by either garrison. Check your specific installation's current gate guidance before you travel.
- When is Family Day at Fort Benning Infantry OSUT?
- There is no single "Family Day" at Benning the way Jackson or Sill structure it. The functional equivalent is the Turning Green Ceremony at Week 9-10, a ~1-hour ceremony where families pin the Army patch on their Soldier, after which the Soldier receives a 3-day pass (Friday release through Sunday 2000 return, with required Saturday and Sunday 0900 company check-ins). The other family-attended events are the Turning Blue ceremony at Week 18 (blue cord) and the Graduation Ceremony immediately after. Schedule specifics are unit-driven; confirm with the unit family-readiness contact.
Plan your Family Day
Build a dated plan with your pass window and the rest of the week.
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