Most published 2026 schedules pair Thursday Family Day with Friday graduation, but holiday weeks can change the sequence. Alpha Battery 1-40 FA Class 44-26 was one such exception: its letter scheduled graduation for Thursday, June 18 at 9:00 AM at Cache Creek Chapel Complex, followed immediately by Family Day. Do not apply that cohort's time or sequence to another battery. Confirm the exact time, venue, gate, arrival instructions, and pass window in your Soldier's own letter. Many Fort Sill graduates then transition into on-post Field Artillery or Air Defense Artillery training.
At a glance
- Day: Friday morning, Varies by batteryThe published Alpha Battery 1-40 FA holiday-week example was 9:00 AM on June 18. Do not apply it to another battery.
- Location: Cache Creek Chapel Complex, 6043 Rothwell Street, is named by current schedule sources and the published Alpha Battery 1-40 FA letter. Confirm the venue in your Soldier's own battery letter.
- Duration: ~2 hours
- Civilian gate: Key Gate West (off I-44) · 24/7
- Guests: Graduations are open to the public; no ticket, RSVP, or guest cap is published. Every adult (18+) in the vehicle must have their own pass -- not just the driver, and a REAL ID-compliant ID is required even if you already hold an approved pass. Use Key Gate West (dedicated visitor lane 0700-1000 on graduation morning); outside that window, every adult must obtain a pass in advance at pass.aie.army.mil (request online passes at least 24 hours before you arrive). Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes earlier than you normally would to account for the per-person vetting.
If weather moves the ceremony
Forecasts this far out aren’t reliable. Treat this as a starting point and check again the morning of.
The published Alpha Battery example was already indoors at Cache Creek Chapel Complex. Follow your own battery letter or an official unit update if the assigned venue changes.
Where updates post: Check the current battery letter and the 434th Field Artillery Brigade graduation page before leaving for the ceremony.
Both days, step by step
Graduation week is two days. Thursday is Family Day; Friday is the parade.
Thursday
Family Day
- ~7:00 AMLeave the hotel
Key Gate West (off I-44), about a 12-min drive from Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport. Plan on ~20 min at the gate.
- ~8:15 AMParked
Parking fills quickly. Aim to be in your seat early.
- 9:00 AMFamily Day ceremony
Battalion-designated pickup location. 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 8:00 PMReturn your Soldier
Recall is 8:00 PM. A late return affects the whole company.
The emotional one. Bring your camera. First time seeing your Soldier since they shipped.
Friday
Graduation Parade
- Varies by batteryGraduation Parade
Cache Creek Chapel Complex, 6043 Rothwell Street, is named by current schedule sources and the published Alpha Battery 1-40 FA letter. Confirm the venue in your Soldier's own battery letter.. About 2 hours.
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 dates aren't published by Fort Sill.
- Sep11NextD 1-31st FA / A 1-40th FAFamily Day · Sep 101 day
- Sep18F 1-31st FA / E 1-79th FAFamily Day · Sep 178 days
- Sep25B 1-40th FAFamily Day · Sep 2415 days
| Grad date | Family Day | Countdown | |
|---|---|---|---|
| September2026 | |||
| 11D 1-31st FA / A 1-40th FA | Sep 10 | 1 day | |
| 18F 1-31st FA / E 1-79th FA | Sep 17 | 8 days | |
| 25B 1-40th FA | Sep 24 | 15 days | |
Nearest upcoming date highlighted.
Plan the rest of the week
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Related field guides
When to leave the hotel, clearing the gate, parking, bleacher seating, and finding your Soldier after the parade.
Field Artillery (13-series) Soldiers
Plan around the Basic Combat Training graduation dates above. Fort Sill is also the Field Artillery schoolhouse, so 13-series Soldiers stay on post for Advanced Individual Training after BCT. The BCT graduation is the ceremony families travel for. AIT completion afterward is a brief in-unit milestone, and the 434th Field Artillery Brigade advises families that travel for AIT is generally not authorized. Confirm with your Soldier's unit before booking a second trip.