Graduation is a Friday-morning pass-in-review, held the day after Family Day on Thursday. The venue genuinely varies: Cache Creek Chapel Complex is named on every currently published 2026 schedule, but Polo Field has also been used and is not merely a rare fair-weather exception, so do not assume Cache Creek Chapel without checking. Fort Sill does not publish an official start time either; ceremonies typically begin mid-morning. Confirm both the venue and the exact time with your Soldier's unit letter or the 434th Field Artillery Brigade page, and plan to be seated 30 minutes before it begins. Use Key Gate West (off I-44): a dedicated graduation visitor lane runs 0700-1000 and does not require a pre-obtained pass. Parking is described as ample at Cache Creek Chapel, but carpool is still advisable either way. Arrive by 0830. After the ceremony, families can stay with their Soldier on-post for the released time window. Most Fort Sill grads then transition into AIT on-post since the FA and ADA MOS schools are here. Your Soldier stays at Sill for the next phase.
Related guides
At a glance
- Day: Friday morning, ~9:30 AMFort Sill does not publish an official start time; ceremonies typically begin mid-morning. Confirm the exact time in your Soldier's unit letter.
- Location: Cache Creek Chapel Complex (6043 Rothwell St) or Polo Field. The venue is not confirmed for every cycle from public sources: every currently published 2026 schedule names Cache Creek Chapel, but Polo Field has also been used and some units may still be assigned there. Confirm your specific venue via your unit's graduation letter or the 434th Field Artillery Brigade page (sill-www.army.mil/434).
- 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.
If inclement weather affects the outdoor Polo Field option, the ceremony moves to the Cache Creek Chapel Complex.
Where updates post: Updates are posted to the unit Facebook page and the Fort Sill Facebook page the morning of 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
- ~9:30 AMGraduation Parade
Cache Creek Chapel Complex (6043 Rothwell St) or Polo Field. The venue is not confirmed for every cycle from public sources: every currently published 2026 schedule names Cache Creek Chapel, but Polo Field has also been used and some units may still be assigned there. Confirm your specific venue via your unit's graduation letter or the 434th Field Artillery Brigade page (sill-www.army.mil/434).. 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.
Nearest upcoming date highlighted.
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.
Plan the rest of the week
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