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 does Family Day start at Fort Leonard Wood?

Family Day at Fort Leonard Wood is the Forge Ceremony, the recognition formation that runs after The Forge field exercise concludes. It is typically held Wednesday morning the day before Graduation. The exact start time and venue vary by company: Gammon Field (primary outdoor parade field), Nutter Field House, Baker Theater, or Abrams Theater are the four venues in rotation. Check home.army.mil/wood/my-fort/grad/calendar for your Soldier's specific company assignment.

Fort Leonard Wood Family Day Schedule 2026: What to Expect

Wednesday: the day before graduation, then an on-post pass with your Soldier.

At a glance

Day: Wednesday morning. Confirm time with garrison.
Location: Gammon Field (outdoor parade field) is the primary venue; some companies are assigned to Nutter Field House, Baker Theater, or Abrams Theater. Check home.army.mil/wood/my-fort/grad/calendar for your Soldier's specific company. (Directions)
Duration: ~2 hr, then on-post pass for the afternoon
Dress: Smart casual; weather-appropriate for Missouri (outdoor ceremony, any season). Pack layers.

The shape of the day

The Wednesday before graduation: the first time you’ll see your Soldier since they shipped. Most families remember it more than graduation itself. Important distinction: "The Forge" is a 96-hour continuous field training exercise. Trainees do not return to barracks during The Forge, and families do NOT attend the field exercise itself. What families attend is the Forge Ceremony: the recognition formation that runs after the FTX concludes on Wednesday (Family Day). It marks the moment trainees are recognized as Soldiers. Your Soldier will be depleted after 96 hours in the field. Bring food they've missed. Listen more than you talk. The Graduation Parade is the next day (Thursday) at the same venue your unit uses for Family Day.

Family Day timeline

~7:00 AM
Leave the hotel
Main Gate (North): Missouri Avenue, off I-44, about a 5-min drive from Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport (Forney Field). Plan on ~25 min at the gate.
By 09:00
Parked
Gammon Field parking (outdoor venue). Arrive by 0900 for a typical 1000 ceremony start. Gammon Field is the primary outdoor venue. Parking is in the adjacent field lot. No named overflow lot published by FLW PAO; if the lot fills, families walk from nearby on-post roads. Check your unit's specific instructions for your Soldier's company.
~9:00 AM
The Forge Ceremony
Gammon Field (outdoor parade field) is the primary venue; some companies are assigned to Nutter Field House, Baker Theater, or Abrams Theater. Check home.army.mil/wood/my-fort/grad/calendar for your Soldier's specific company.. Runs about 2 hour.
After
On-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.
Late afternoon
Return your Soldier
Recall is in the late afternoon (confirm the exact time with your Soldier). A late return affects the whole company.

The emotional one. Bring your camera and expect the afternoon to go fast.

Gate & parking

Main Gate (North): Missouri Avenue, off I-44

Open 24/7 · ~5 min from Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport (Forney Field) (TBN). Family Day morning wait: about 25 minutes. Primary graduation entry point for families. Take I-44 exit 161, turn onto Missouri Avenue and drive ~3 miles to the gate. Use far-left lanes 1 or 2. Visitor Control Center (VCC) is just outside this gate (2624 Missouri Ave). On Family Day and Graduation Day, US citizens enter with a valid state ID; visitors 17 and younger are not required to show ID. No pre-obtained pass needed. Know your Soldier's unit and the event location before you reach the gate: guards ask why you are visiting. Non-REAL ID licenses require a supplemental document (US passport, birth certificate, or similar). Non-US citizens must arrange access in advance by emailing the VCC.

Parking: Gammon Field parking (outdoor venue). Be parked by 09:00. Arrive by 0900 for a typical 1000 ceremony start. Gammon Field is the primary outdoor venue. Parking is in the adjacent field lot. No named overflow lot published by FLW PAO; if the lot fills, families walk from nearby on-post roads. Check your unit's specific instructions for your Soldier's company.

After the ceremony: the on-post pass

Your Soldier is released with an . They can spend time with you on post (PX, fast food, the on-post club) until late-afternoon recall.
Bring food they’ve been missing: candy from the gas station near home, a real burger, takeout from a favorite place. They’ve been eating dining-facility food for 10 weeks.
Some companies grant an for Family Day evening. Many don’t. Confirm with their drill sergeant before making dinner reservations.
Return your Soldier to the company area before recall; confirm the exact time with your Soldier. A late return affects the whole company. Don’t push it.

Quick answers

Do I need a visitor pass to get on post?: No pass is required if you arrive on Family Day and depart on graduation day. A pass is required for early arrival, post-graduation departure, or an on-post hotel stay. Pre-register at pass.aie.army.mil well in advance if you need a pass.
Can I take an Uber or rideshare on post?: Rideshares are permitted on post. Confirm pickup zones, as some areas restrict commercial vehicle access.
What if my Soldier’s company gives a blue cord or pinning ceremony?: Recognition formations vary by unit. It’s a unit-level decision, not a garrison-wide event. Confirm with your Soldier’s drill sergeant ahead of time.
Can I bring signs or balloons to the ceremony?: Most Army posts prohibit signs, banners, balloons, and air horns at ceremonies. Cameras are fine. Confirm the specific rules with your Soldier's unit.

Graduation is the next morning

See the ceremony timing and what to expect on Graduation Day.

See graduation day