11B Infantry OSUT Graduation Guide
22 weeks · Two family ceremonies · Fort Benning, GA
The two-trip decision
Infantry OSUT has two distinct family-attended ceremonies. Many families travel for both; others attend only the final graduation. Here’s what each trip looks like.
Turning Blue Ceremony (Week 10)
Venue: Kanell Field, Sand Hill (on-post). Enter via the Sand Hill Family Day / Graduation Entrance on Custer Road — Real ID and a vehicle pass required at the gate.
The Turning Blue Ceremony marks the end of the BCT phase of Infantry OSUT. Soldiers earn the blue cord. For families: this is the smaller of the two trips — your Soldier still has 12 weeks of AIT ahead. Many families skip this trip and attend the Week-22 Cordon only. The venue is ON-POST at Kanell Field, Sand Hill — plan extra time for the gate check on Custer Road.
Cordon Ceremony (Infantry OSUT Graduation)
Venue: Inouye Field, National Infantry Museum (1775 Legacy Way, Columbus GA 31903). Off-post — drive directly to the museum parking lot; no gate entry to Fort Benning required.
The Cordon Ceremony marks graduation from Infantry OSUT. Soldiers march through a cordon of NCOs — a traditional acceptance into the Infantry brotherhood. For families: this is the high-stakes trip. Soldiers often ship to their first duty station within days of the ceremony — sometimes overseas. Plan for a longer stay and a deployment goodbye. The venue is OFF-POST at the National Infantry Museum — simpler morning logistics than the Week-10 trip, no gate to clear. Free parking at the museum lot; arrive early as it fills with deployment-ready family parties.
Upcoming cycles
Other OSUT tracks at this installation
More from Fort Benning
The track page above carries OSUT-specific ceremony detail. For hotels, packing, and the base landing, head to the installation page.