Family Day
Family Day takes place the day before Graduation. Batteries will march Soldiers to a designated drop-off location to meet their families. Some batteries will also take time to recognize honor graduates and hold a promotion ceremony.
Please be seated in the bleachers at least 30 minutes before the start of the demonstration so the ceremony can begin on time. Uniformed personnel will be available to help you find your way around the installation.
Following the demonstration, all graduating Soldiers in good standing will be allowed to go on pass from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. CST. Soldiers without family in attendance may accompany a fellow Soldier's family on pass.
Pass guidelines to keep in mind:
Soldiers must remain in uniform and conduct themselves professionally at all times.
Soldiers may accompany family to local restaurants, retail stores, and hotels, but not to bars, casinos, or clubs.
All Soldiers in BCT — regardless of age — may not consume alcoholic beverages, use tobacco products of any kind, or drive any vehicle while on pass.
Overnight passes are not authorized during BCT.
Please help your Soldier stay on track by returning them to their unit by the time specified by the commander.
Graduation Day
After the graduation ceremony, all Soldiers will return to their battery headquarters to begin out-processing. There is no family visitation during or after this process. Soldiers remaining at Fort Sill will be transferred to their Advanced Individual Training (AIT) unit. Soldiers departing Fort Sill will typically begin leaving the evening of Graduation Day.
Important: Soldiers are not authorized leave after BCT graduation. Please do not make plans for your Soldier to travel home, and arrange your own travel for Family Day and Graduation accordingly.
Watching the Livestream
Can't attend in person? Fort Sill streams graduation ceremonies live — free of charge.
Watch on the official Fort Sill YouTube channel
Scam alert: The livestream is always free. If anyone asks for credit card information to watch, that is not an authorized channel.
Getting on Base
Plan to arrive early. Traffic is heavy on Family Day and Graduation with families arriving from all over the country.
During Family Day and Graduation, attendees will be vetted at Key Gate East and Key Gate West. You must present a valid state-issued ID or U.S. passport to enter. You are permitted to go to your designated Family Day and Graduation areas only — to access the rest of the installation, you will need to visit the Visitor Welcome Center (VCC) for a visitor pass.
A few important things to know when driving on post:
All vehicles are subject to search by Fort Sill police. Please cooperate with security staff to keep things moving.
Do not bring a personally owned firearm. Firearms are not permitted for visitors, as registration requires a commanding officer's approval.
Speed limits on post do not exceed 40 mph. In the 434th FA Brigade area, limits range from 15–25 mph. Slow to 15 mph when passing Soldiers on foot or in formation.
Hand-held cell phone use while driving on post is prohibited. Pull over completely before using your phone.
Getting a Visitor Pass (VCC)
For visits beyond the Family Day and Graduation areas, all adults without a DoD-issued ID are required to obtain a visitor pass through a background check. Here's what you need to know:
You can apply up to 30 days in advance at the Visitor Pre-Registration System.
Visitor passes can also be processed same-day at the Visitor Welcome Center (VCC), located just outside Bentley Gate at 6701 Sheridan Road, Fort Sill, OK 73503.
VCC hours: Monday–Sunday, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
The background check process takes approximately 5–7 minutes per person. Pre-registering online speeds this up significantly.
A pass can be issued for the full duration of your visit so you only need one background check.
Everyone 16 and older riding in your vehicle will need their own visitor pass.
Questions? Call the VCC at (580) 442-9607 / (580) 442-9616 or email usarmy.sill.id-training.mbx.fort-sill-visitor-control-center@army.mil
Important Reminders
Always confirm specific dates, times, and locations with your Soldier directly, as schedules can change.