Training Center Cape May Graduation

Whether your recruit is graduating in a few weeks or has just begun their journey at Cape May Coast Guard Training Center, it's never too early to start planning your trip to Coast Guard Boot Camp Graduation. Below you'll find all the information you need for the Coast Guard basic training graduation.

Since the Coast Guard is the smallest branch of the military, Coast Guardsmen pride themselves on fostering a close-knit community, branch wide and looking out for their own. As a member of the Coast Guard community, you will come to find a military service that puts its service members and their families as its number one priority. Coast Guard boot camp graduation will be your first opportunity to experience what it means to be a part of this Semper Paratus community.

United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., is the nation's only Coast Guard Recruit Training Center. The Training Center is open to the invited family members and guests of the graduating class every Friday starting at 8:15 a.m. Please do not attempt to come through the gate early, as the security guards will instruct you to turn around and re-enter at the designated time. A government-issued photo ID is required to access the base.

5:45 or 6:00 pm Pasta Dinner | Harbor View Club.

8:15 am | Main Gate Opens

8:30-9:45 am | Breakfast | Harborview Club

10:05 am | Formation 'fly by' | Directly outside of the SA William R. Flores Gymnasium

10:25 am |Pre-Ceremony Video | SA William R. Flores Gymnasium

11:00 - 12:00 pm | Graduation | SA William R. Flores Gymnasium

8:15 am | Main Gate Opens

8:30-9:45 am | Breakfast | Harborview Club

10:00 am |Pre-Ceremony Video | Ida Lewis Auditorium

10:25 am | Move to the Parade Field for Formation 'fly by'

11:00 - 12:00 pm | Graduation | Parade Field

Uniformed Service Members presenting a graduating certificate must check in at 10:00 in the Ida Lewis Auditorium. All presenters can wear their appropriate service uniform.

The Thursday Dinner and Friday Breakfast are open to all family members and supporters. Enjoy meeting your recruit's Company Commanders and connect with other families. Both meals are served by the Coast Guard Auxiliary on base at the Harbor View Club.

There are two dinner seatings on Thursday night, beginning at 5:45 pm and 6:00 pm. The registration links are sent from your recruit and reservations are limited to 5 guests. The price for dinner is $15 for adults and $10 for children.

The breakfast starts at 8:30 am and ends at 9:45 am. The cost is $10 per guest.

Reversion refers to a recruit being 'held back' for a short period of time based on a medical issue or remediation in specific training areas. In most cases, reversion is 3-5 days and provides a boost in confidence for the recruit. Most recruits rejoin with a renewed sense of rigor and successfully complete their training.

If your recruit is reverted, they will receive a new graduation date, so you might need to adjust your travel arrangements.

The nearest large airport is Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), which 96 miles from Cape May and will take less than 2 hours to drive.

Atlantic City (ACY) is about 50 minutes from Cape May. Although slightly closer, Atlantic City is served by a few low-cost carriers whose cancellation policies have left many families missing graduation.