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.
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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 AMLeave 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 09:00Parked
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 AMThe 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.
- 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.
- Late afternoonReturn 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
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.
More Family Day questions
- What should we do with our Soldier during the Family Day pass?
- Build the day around the unit's pass boundary, recall time, and travel radius. A meal and unstructured time are safer than a packed itinerary because traffic and gate re-entry consume part of the pass. Fort Jackson's current guide says Family Day is typically on-post while graduation release is typically off-post within 25 miles, but the training battalion can change those limits. Confirm the current brief before making reservations.
- Can I take my Soldier off post during the Family Day pass?
- Only if the current unit brief authorizes it. Fort Jackson's visitor guide says Family Day release is typically on-post and graduation release is typically off-post within 25 miles, while Fort Sill's brigade FAQ directs families to follow the Soldier's specific pass rules. Do not infer permission from another company's experience. Confirm the boundary, recall time, uniform rules, and transportation restrictions with your Soldier before leaving post.
- 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, but each post applies it differently. Fort Sill 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 says that beginning August 1, 2026, every visitor 18 or older needs an AIE visitor's pass for Family Day and Graduation; its NCIC background check can take 3 to 30 business days. Fort Benning does not require advance AIE registration when every adult has a valid REAL ID: the gate scan becomes a digital visitor pass. Families who prefer to pre-register use AIE's Special Event option and their battalion code; non-U.S. citizens must process at the Lindsey Creek Visitor Control Center. Fort Leonard Wood admits U.S. citizens on Family Day and Graduation Day with compliant physical ID and no pre-obtained pass for a same-weekend visit, while non-U.S. citizens arrange access in advance. Check your installation's current gate guidance before 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.
Graduation is the next morning
See the ceremony timing and what to expect on Graduation Day.