Confirm whether your company grants a pass after the ceremony and the permitted time and area. Here is how the pass works at Fort Sill: on-post vs. off-post, what your Soldier can wear, when to bring them back, and what to confirm with the unit before you plan.
One distinction up front: the Family Day pass covers your Soldier leaving with you, while the AIE pass covers you getting on post at all. Fort Sill uses AIE for advance visitor passes. Request one at pass.aie.army.mil at least 24 hours before travel, and follow the event-specific access instructions in your battery letter. Every adult still needs the required physical ID. See the common questions below for the full installation comparison.
Confirm release and meeting instructions with the company.
Confirm with your Soldier’s unit. Return 15 minutes before the announced time.
On-post vs. off-post is set by the battalion or company, not the garrison. Confirm with the unit before making plans.
What the pass actually is
The company decides whether a Family Day pass is granted, when it starts and ends, and where your Soldier may go. Confirm those instructions before planning time together.
This is not a weekend pass. Your Soldier is still under orders. The pass governs where they can go, what they can do, and when they must be back. Confirm graduation reporting and onward-travel instructions separately. They are not a free civilian yet.
The on-post vs. off-post distinction is set by the battalion, not the garrison. Your Soldier’s company is the source of truth.
Where you can go
You stay on Sill grounds. The on-post PX, on-post food options, and the grounds around the ceremony venue are accessible. Your Soldier will be in uniform. Bring them food they have been missing.
If the company grants an off-post pass, you can drive into Lawton. Most families use the time for one sit-down meal. Don’t over-schedule. Recall comes fast.
Confirm before you plan
If you book a restaurant off-post and the company issues only an on-post pass, you’ll have to cancel. Ask your Soldier to find out from their drill sergeant before the ceremony if possible.
Confirm the driver is approved to enter post before booking. Every adult passenger must meet the same ID and visitor-pass requirements as other visitors. Wait times in Lawton can be longer than in larger cities. A rental car (opens in new tab) or family vehicle is more reliable.
When to bring them back
Recall time is set by the company and announced at or before the ceremony. Ask your Soldier to find out from their drill sergeant ahead of time.
A late return is not just your Soldier’s problem. If one Soldier is missing at recall, the whole company stands at formation waiting. Show up on time.
What happens if they’re late: Consequences vary by company policy. Don’t find out the hard way. Just be on time.
Rules for the pass
Uniform
Your Soldier stays in Army Combat Uniform for the Family Day pass. Do not bring a change of clothes; changing out of uniform during the pass is a violation of pass conditions. Confirm with the unit if you have heard otherwise from another family.
Alcohol
No alcohol during the Family Day pass, regardless of age. Pass conditions set by the company govern the pass window. Don’t buy it for them or put it in front of them.
Cell phone
Most companies return phones before or during Family Day. If your Soldier has theirs, this is often the first unrestricted phone time they’ve had. Expect them to want to call or text people who are not there.
Where to confirm the specifics
Your Soldier’s company first sergeant or drill sergeant is the right source for recall time, pass type, and any Fort Sill-specific rules. The Fort Sill garrison website is the official fallback for public access information.
Public Affairs contact: 580-442-2052 / usarmy.sill.fcoe.mbx.434-fa-bde-pao@army.mil.
Quick answers
- 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 visitor-access system at pass.aie.army.mil. Rules differ by installation. Fort Jackson: Adults 18+ without DoD credentials need a visitor pass as well as physical ID, including Family Day and graduation. REAL ID is waived only for those event days. U.S. citizens in the 50 states can apply online for Visitor Pass, not Special Event. Non-U.S. citizens and residents of U.S. territories are vetted on arrival; follow the official visitor guide. Fort Sill: Adults 18+ without DoD-issued ID need a visitor pass and REAL ID or an accepted alternative. Request online passes at least 24 hours before arrival. Fort Benning: For on-post events, REAL ID scanning can create a digital visitor pass at the gate. Battalion Special Event pre-registration is another route. Non-U.S. citizens need visitor-center processing. Lindsey Creek Visitor Control Center is open 24/7; confirm other open centers or advance vetting with the visitor center before travel. Follow your track and ceremony letter. Fort Leonard Wood: Bring REAL ID or approved supplemental identity documents. U.S. citizens generally need no advance pass for the Family Day through graduation window; exceptions apply. Check the official visitor guide for airport, hotel, citizenship and identity-document exceptions.
- When does Family Day start at Fort Sill?
- Use your Soldier’s battery instructions for the Family Day date, pickup time, location and recall. Holiday weeks can change the usual order of events. Confirm permitted travel before making plans away from the venue.
Plan your Family Day
Build a dated plan with your pass window and the rest of the week.
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