Thursday morning, the pass-in-review parade on Hilton Field. The parking lot fills early. Be in your seat by 7 AM. When the parade ends, your Soldier is released to travel home or on to AIT.
Related guides
At a glance
- Day: Thursday morning, 9:00 AM
- Location: Hilton Field (Directions)
- Duration: ~2 hours
- Civilian gate: Gate 2 (Forest Drive) · 24/7
- Guests: No ticket or RSVP required. Every adult needs a photo ID at the gate. No guest cap; the real limits are gate ID, parking, and first-come bleacher seating.
If weather moves the ceremony
Forecasts this far out aren’t reliable. Treat this as a starting point and check again the morning of.
Moves from Hilton Field to an indoor location.
Where updates post: The garrison posts the updated venue to the Fort Jackson Facebook page the morning of.
Both days, step by step
Graduation week is two days. Wednesday is Family Day; Thursday is the parade.
Wednesday
Family Day
- ~7:00 AMLeave the hotel
Gate 2 (Forest Drive), about a 23-min drive from Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Plan on ~25 min at the gate.
- By 8:15 AMParked
Hilton Field main parking. Arrive by 8:15 AM for Family Day at 9 AM. Overflow parking will be signed.
- 9:00 AMFamily Day ceremony
Hilton Field. Runs about 1 hour.
- AfterOn-post pass begins
Once the ceremony wraps, your Soldier is released to you on post. PX, fast food on post, and time together until afternoon recall.
- By 5-6 PMReturn your Soldier
Recall is 5-6 PM. A late return affects the whole company.
The emotional one. Bring your camera. First time seeing your Soldier since they shipped.
Thursday
Graduation Parade
- 6:30 AMArrive at the post
Gate 2 is open 24/7, but the Hilton Field parking-lot gates typically open at 6 or 7 AM depending on the graduating unit's size. Allow ~25 min gate wait on graduation morning.
- By 7:00 AMIn your seat
Hilton Field graduation parking fills by 7:00 AM. Rows 5-8 center give the best view.
- 9:00 AMGraduation Parade
The pass-in-review on Hilton Field runs roughly 50 minutes. Starts at 9 AM unless weather forces a change; the inclement weather plan posts to the Fort Jackson Facebook page.
The formal one. Your Soldier marches in formation and is released to travel home.
2026 graduation schedule
Pick your date to start a plan. Ship date is the day your Soldier left for basic.
| Grad date | Family Day | Countdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| July2026 | |||
| 302-60th IN | Jul 29 | 11 days | |
| August | |||
| 63-39th IN | Aug 5 | 18 days | |
| 131-13th IN | Aug 12 | 25 days | |
| 272-13th IN | Aug 26 | 39 days | |
| September | |||
| 34-39th IN | Sep 2 | 46 days | |
| 103-60th IN | Sep 9 | 53 days | |
| 243-13th IN | Sep 23 | 67 days | |
| October | |||
| 11-34th IN | Sep 30 | 74 days | |
| 83-34th IN | Oct 7 | 81 days | |
| 222-60th IN | Oct 21 | 95 days | |
| 293-39th IN | Oct 28 | 102 days | |
| November | |||
| 51-13th IN | Nov 4 | 109 days | |
| 192-13th IN | Nov 18 | 123 days | |
| 254-39th IN | Nov 24 | 129 days | |
| December | |||
| 33-60th IN | Dec 2 | 137 days | |
Nearest upcoming date highlighted.
Find your Soldier’s battalion
Each battalion publishes its own Family Day and graduation dates. Open your unit’s page for that cycle’s specifics.
- 1-13th IN graduation →1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment · 193rd Infantry Brigade
- 2-13th IN graduation →2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment · 193rd Infantry Brigade
- 3-13th IN graduation →3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment · 193rd Infantry Brigade
- 3-60th IN graduation →3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment · 193rd Infantry Brigade
- 2-60th IN graduation →2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment · 193rd Infantry Brigade
- 1-34th IN graduation →1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment · 165th Infantry Brigade
- 3-34th IN graduation →3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment · 165th Infantry Brigade
- 3-39th IN graduation →3rd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment · 165th Infantry Brigade
- 4-39th IN graduation →4th Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment · 165th Infantry Brigade
Graduation week schedule
Verified times for graduation week ceremonies at Fort Jackson. All times local.
| Ceremony | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Family Day | ~7:00 AM | Leave the hotel, Head to Gate 2 (Forest Drive). Allow 23 min from the airport area plus ~25 min gate wait. |
| By 8:15 AM | Parked, Hilton Field main parking fills by 8:15 AM. Overflow parking will be signed. | |
| 9:00 AM | Family Day ceremony, The Soldier Induction Ceremony on Hilton Field runs roughly 20-30 minutes. Trainees officially become Soldiers. | |
| 5-6 PM | Return your Soldier, Recall cutoff is set by the company. Plan around 5 PM; confirm the exact time with your Soldier. | |
| Graduation Parade | 6:30 AM | Arrive at the post, Gate 2 is open 24/7, but the Hilton Field parking-lot gates typically open at 6 or 7 AM depending on the graduating unit's size. Allow ~25 min gate wait on graduation morning. |
| By 7:00 AM | In your seat, Hilton Field graduation parking fills by 7:00 AM. Rows 5-8 center give the best view. | |
| 9:00 AM | Graduation Parade, The pass-in-review on Hilton Field runs roughly 50 minutes. Starts at 9 AM unless weather forces a change; the inclement weather plan posts to the Fort Jackson Facebook page. |
When to leave the hotel, clearing the gate, parking, bleacher seating, and finding your Soldier after the parade.
Plan the rest of the week
Free breakfast, free parking, military rates available. Full comparison
Quality Inn
$79-$99/night
Holiday Inn Express
$83-$180/night
Fairfield Inn
$109-$149/night
SpringHill Suites
$110-$227/night
Rental car from the airport
Rideshares cannot enter the base. Military discount available.
We may earn a commission when you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.