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Graduation Info

Family Day & Graduation Ceremony

Family Day and graduation take place on the last two days of recruit training. Family Day occurs Thursday and gives new Marines a chance to see family and friends for the first time during on-base liberty. Graduation is conducted Friday in a formal ceremony, attended by family and friends.
All recruits are issued a graduation packet with the battalion commander’s graduation invitation letter sometime around week 9 of their 12-week training cycle. But please note, it is the recruits themselves who decide where they mail their graduation packets.
Parris Island personnel cannot inform you of the mailing status of a graduation packet or re-issue one.
Please be sure to confirm the graduation date (2019 schedule) before making plans.
Visitors should stop by the Douglas Visitors' 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 9:50 a.m. on Family Day.
To make reservations for Marine Corps Community Services events, visit www.parrisisland.eventbrite.com
For more information on events and family day activities, visit the MCCS graduation week page.
Wednesday - Family Orientation Day at Parris Island
Time
Event​
6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
​Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) open
6 a.m. - 6 p.m.​
​Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) Food Court open
7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
​Engraving Shop open
7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
​Family Check-in at the Douglas Visitors' Center
​Java Café open (8 a.m. - 12 p.m.)          
Visitors' Center Gift Shop open (7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Marine Corps 101, including a "Behind the Scenes" tour, at Douglas Visitor's Center.*           
Please check-in by 9:30 a.m. so we can begin seating the waitlist at 9:45 a.m.
​1:30 - 2:30 p.m.
​Family Orientation Brief at the Douglas Visitors' Center.
2 - 5 p.m.
​Late lunch at Traditions (pub menu available).
*Register for Family Day events at: (www.parrisisland.eventbrite.com)
Thursday -- Family Liberty Day at Parris Island
Time
Event​
6 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Douglas Visitors' Center open. Please register upon arrival.
Java Café (6 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
Visitors' Center Gift Shop open (6 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) open.
​6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) Food Court open.
​7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Engraving Shop open.
7 a.m.
Motivational Run - Peatross Parade Deck and Boulevard de France.
​8 a.m.
Depot Museum opens.
8:15 a.m.
All-Weather Training Facility (AWTF) opens.
9:30 - 10 a.m.
Battalion commander’s brief to families & liberty ceremony (AWTF).
10 a.m.
Liberty begins.
​10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Marksmanship Training Unit open house.
​10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The Bunker open.
​10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Family Day Buffet at Traditions – no registration required!
​2 p.m.
​Warrior’s Prayer at the Recruit Chapel.
3 p.m.
​Liberty ends.
4 p.m.
​Meet & Greet with Depot Command at Traditions.
(Please note your Marine will not be present.)
4:30 p.m.
​Command welcome remarks
4:45 p.m.
​Family Night Dinner with Depot Command at Traditions. Attendees must register for a table beforehand at www.parrisisland.eventbrite.com
 
Friday -- Graduation Day at Parris Island
Time
Event​
6 a.m. - noon
Douglas Visitors' Center open.
Java Café (6 a.m. - noon)
Graduation Station (6:30 a.m.- noon)
6 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) open.
6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Marine Corps Exchange (MCX) Food Court open.
7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Engraving Shop open.
7:45 a.m.
Morning Colors flag raising ceremony at Barrow Hall.
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Graduation at Peatross Parade Deck.
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Lunch Buffet at Traditions restaurant.
*All times/locations subject to change.