Military

Military Family Day & Military Graduation Day
Family Day takes place on Thursday, and gives new Marines on-base liberty -- a chance to see their family and friends for the first time since their arrival on Parris Island. Graduation is conducted Friday with a formal ceremony and parade, attended by family and friends.

All recruits are issued a Graduation Packet with the battalion commander’s graduation invitation letter, and an entry/parking placard (vehicle pass) sometime during week 9 of their 12 week training cycle.

Please note: It is the recruits themselves who decide who receives their graduation packets. Parris Island personnel cannot inform you of the mailing status of a Grad Packet, or re-issue one.

Please be sure to confirm the graduation date of your recruit. 

In order to be authorized access to the Depot, Family Day and Graduation guests must have entry/parking placards (vehicle passes) to properly identify their vehicles. Additional vehicle passes will be made available at the front gate.

Visitors are requested to stop by the Douglas Visitor Center upon arrival to check in. In order to allow time to identify which recruits have family or visitors waiting to see them, please sign in before 9:50am on Family Day.

The Beaufort Regional Chamber VCB has many businesses which provide military discounts - be sure to check our directory while you are visiting!

Family Day

Please register before 9:50am at the Douglas Visitor Center.
6:30 am - Java Café open in Visitor Center
7 am - Motivational Run
8 am - 7 pm Marine Corps Exchange open
8 am - Museum opens
8:15 am - All Weather Training Facility/Lyceum Open
9:30 am - Battalion Commander's Brief describing Recruit Training in the All-Weather Training Facility
9: 50 am - Liberty Ceremony (on base liberty commences upon conclusion of the ceremony)
10 am - 3 pm Barracks Open House
10 am - 3 pm Observation of events at Leatherneck Square
3 pm - Liberty Ends

Graduation Day

The Morning Colors Ceremony (flag raising) with musical accompaniment by the Parris Island Marine Band is held Friday at 7:45 a.m. in front of Barrow Hall. Graduation is held Friday mornings at 09:00 a.m. on the Depot’s Peatross Parade Deck and lasts about an hour. In the event of inclement weather, graduation ceremonies will be held in two or three indoor locations, which will be announced on the morning of graduation at the Visitors Center.