FAMILY SURVIVAL GUIDE (FSG)

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to 3-13!!! Volunteers from our Family Readiness Group (FRG) run this page with oversight from the Battalion Commander (BC). Our spouses are all Soldier’s that work in Basic Combat Training (BCT) in 3rd Battalion 13th Infantry Regiment (3-13). There are just a handful of volunteers that manage this whole page and we do it while juggling our regular lives! That’s right we all have spouses, kids, and work in addition to doing this! Did I mention that our spouses keep the same hours as your Soldier’s?

The Purpose of this page is to give you a glimpse into your Soldier’s BCT experience and help you integrate into the Army so that you may become empowered, well informed, and resilient Army families.

This one webpage covers all 5 companies in 3-13 (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Foxtrot).

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US You can expect to have the opportunity to learn about the Army. We have a program called

Family BCT. You can read more about this later.

You can expect to get tons of information about the Army through the Family Survival Guide (FSG), Commanders Letter (CL) and on the Facebook page.

You can expect to have an opportunity to ask questions of our FRG volunteers and connect with other BCT families.

You can expect to receive about 400 photos from each company throughout the next 10 weeks. This may vary due to training and the number of volunteers available for each company.

You can expect to receive the most current and up-to-date information that is available through this site as it is the ONLY official 3-13 Facebook page.

WHAT WE EXPECT FROM YOU We expect you to be responsible for learning the information that we have provided for you. Take

some time and read all of it and then re-read it as many times as you need to. We also suggest printing it as well. As stated before, our goal is for you to be become empowered, well informed, and resilient Army families. This cannot happen unless you take responsibility for yourself. We will not do for you what you can and should do for yourself!

We expect you to be flexible and understanding. There is a reason for everything we do even if you don’t understand or agree with it. As a family member you are often times not entitled to have an explanation. We understand that is frustrating because we are in the same boat, but experience has taught us that Army life is much easier if you learn to go with the flow!

We expect you follow the rules of the page. Although you as a family member did not enlist in the Army you do have to follow the rules the Army has set forth. This is practice for the “real” Army that you will encounter at your first duty station or when your loved one gets to their first duty station; thus the reason we insist on strict adherence to the rules of this page. It is important to

note that your Soldier is held responsible for your actions, so act accordingly.

FAMILY BCT PROGR A M 3-13 is pleased to provide this program! Your willingness to participate is the only criteria.

Everyone that is a part of this page is welcome to join in!

During the next few weeks you will have the opportunity to take a series of online classes called Army Family Team Building (AFTB). These classes will provide you with just about all the information a new Army family should need. In essence, you can train at the same time as your Soldier so that you will be better prepared for this new Army life. It is a great opportunity to show support to your Soldier!

There are a total of 10 online classes. The shortest classes take about 10 minutes with the longest taking about 40 minutes.

You will need to register for AFTB, but we will provide the directions right on our Facebook page with screen shots included so it will be easy to enroll. Please note that the name you use to register is the name that will appear on your completion certificate and the name that will be on your certificate from the Battalion on Family Day.

If you complete all 10 lessons of AFTB Level 1 and send your certificate to this page by Friday, June 27, 2014 you will be recognized on Family Day! As your Soldiers graduate BCT you will graduate The Family BCT Program!

In order to graduate this program you only need to complete AFTB 1 before June 27, 2014, but if you choose to do additional training (AFTB 2 and 3) you may continue on.

If you are not able to complete the training prior to Family Day please DO NOT stop working on it. This information is valuable and the true prize is gaining a better understanding of the Army life.

RULES FOR THE PAGE Read the Family Survival Guide (FSG) and the Commander’s Letter (CL). Attempting to navigate

this page before you have read them will prove to be difficult. You may download and print them as well.

Questions that are not placed in the proper place will be DELETED. Place your questions under the questions tab to receive an answer from 3-13. If this becomes a problem you will be banned from the page.

Questions that are posted in the correct place, but are clearly addressed in the FSG or the CL will be answered with a simple “FSG” or “CL” response, which should prompt you to go back and read the information provided.

Any rude or derogatory comments after a volunteer has deleted a question or answered a question will result in you being banned from the page immediately. We have a zero tolerance policy for this!

If you would like to ask a question to the other BCT families and not receive a response from 3-13 just label it “To the other BCT families” or something similar so it will not get deleted and we understand you are trying to network with one another.

Statements that you “would sure like to see pictures of _________” and “Sure wish I could get a call from_________” and others like it will be DELETED. If it becomes a problem you will be banned from the page.

Requests for photos, phone calls, direct messages to your soldier, or requests for us to relay messages to your soldier will be DELETED. If it becomes a problem you will be banned from the page.

Any rude or derogatory comments anywhere on the page will result in you being immediately banned! The use of offensive language or racial slurs will result in you being immediately banned from this page. We have a zero tolerance policy in regards to this as well.

We reserve the right to add to these rules, as we deem necessary.

**Note: Please help us keep this site family friendly! There are lots of grandparents and children that visit it to see their loved

ones! Don’t be “that” person!

Put your soldiers platoon NUMBER here once you get it. You do not have to have it to send

mail though! Only your soldier can give you this information.

Your Soldier’s Name

_*_ CO, 3-13th IN Regt., __ Plt

4420 Jackson Blvd.

Fort Jackson, SC 29207-5022

Your soldiers Company

(See below for

abbreviations)

* COMPANY ABBREVIATIONS

ALPHA = A BRAVO = B CHARLIE = C

DELTA = D FOXTROT = F

Mailing Address InfoOur Battalion

Your soldier’s platoon number (if

you have it; only your soldier can give you this)

**This is the correct address in the correct format no matter what your Soldier may have given you. They are nervous when calling home and they oftentimes

give the wrong address.

WHAT CAN/CAN’T I SEND MY SIT?

PROHIBITED ITEMS (WHAT YOU CANNOT SEND):

Alcohol Beverage of any kind Electronic Equipment: (i.e. Walkmans, Cameras, CD Players, iPOD’s, MP3 Players, CD’s,

Cassette’s, Beepers, Hair Dryers, Curling Irons, Electric Razors, etc.). Electric razors may be used by IET with shaving profiles

Weapons of any kind: (i.e. Knives, Scissors, Nail Files, Martial Arts Items, Straight Edge Razor etc)

Contact Lenses/ Civilian Glasses Candy Civilian Clothing/ Underwear (i.e. Thongs, Colored Bra’s) Make Up Hair Dye Cologne/Perfume Food of any type in the Living Bay to include MRE accessory pack items Cell Phones (Will be held by your Drill Sergeant and allowed as a privilege use item on

designated days) Pornographic Material Drug Paraphernalia Over the Counter Medication Prescription medication may not be sold or given away to another Soldier

This is your Brigade (there are 4 other

battalions in our Brigade)

No Combustible, flammable items or Lighters Aerosol Can Tobacco Products ( i.e. Cigarettes, Snuff, Chewing Tobacco, Cigars) Jewelry ( i.e. Rings other than a Wedding Band, Ear Rings, Wrist/Ankle Bracelets, Fancy

Watches, Body Piercings of any type) Cards, Dice, Gambling Games, or any Gambling Device

AUTHORIZED ITEMS (WHAT YOU CAN SEND):

Shaving Cream Undergarments such as Boxers for male Soldiers and Sports Bras for females Reading Material (Military related, religious material) Cough Drops (unflavored/no sugar)(Menthol) Chap stick (flavored or unflavored) Greeting Cards/Post Card/Gift Cards (No electronic cards) Nail Clippers Lotion (scented or unscented) Soap/Body wash (scented or unscented) Food Powder Feminine Hygiene Products Shower Shoes Electric razors for IET with shaving profiles

ORGANIZATION BREAKDOWN

193rd

This is your Battalion

These are the six companies in 3-13 with the company nicknames (approx. 200 soldiers in each)

BCT TRAINING PHASES EXPLAINED

Week 0: Reception Soldiers complete administrative actions required to become part of the Army. Simple tasks are done, such as medical examinations, setting up pay, and initial issue of equipment is completed. This process typically takes between two and three days but can take over a week in some cases.

Weeks 1-3: Red Phase Welcome to BCT! Soldiers meet their Drill Sergeants and begin training. While often considered a difficult week for Soldiers due to the adjustments, it is actually pretty easy compared to later weeks. Most classroom-type training occurs in this period where Soldiers learn about:

Ballistics and Rifle Marksmanship FundamentalsPersonal financial managementLaw of Land Warfare

3-13

Alpha “Gators”

Bravo “Bulldogs”

Charlie “Rock”

Delta “Dawgs”

Foxtrot “Falcons”

Alpha

First Platoon

Second Platoon

Third Platoon

Fourth Platoon

Charlie

First Platoon

Second Platoon

Third Platoon

Fourth Platoon

Delta

First Platoon

Second Platoon

Third Platoon

Fourth Platoon

Foxtrot

First Platoon

Second Platoon

Third Platoon

Fourth Platoon

Bravo

First Platoon

Second Platoon

Third Platoon

Fourth Platoon

There are four platoons in each company with approximately 50 soldiers in each platoon.

Uniform Code of Military Justice (Military Law)Dismounted Land Navigation (using a map and compass)Fundamentals of Physical ReadinessNutritionRappelling and navigating rope bridgesDrill and Ceremonies (marching)Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) Defense (often referred to as the Gas Chamber)FieldcraftPatrolling

Weeks 4-6: White Phase This phase is sometimes referred to the rifleman phase, qualification phase, shoot phase, and some other names. Whatever the term, the training focus is the same...how to identify, track, target, and effectively engage targets with a rifle. In a word, Soldiers learn "Marksmanship". The training is progressive and becomes more difficult as the training progresses:Fundamentals of Rifle Marksmanship are reinforcedZero a rifle (align the rifle sites to hit targets at different distances)Engage targets at various distancesEngage targets at various distances using three different positionsProne supported (laying down with a brace to hold the weapon steady)Prone unsupported (laying down using only your hands to hold the weapon steady)Kneeling unsupported (one knee on the ground, resting the weapon on the other knee)Engage targets at various distances with limited timePrioritize and engage multiple simultaneous targets at various distances with limited time

Engage targets at various distances, with limited and variable amounts of time, with a changing number of simultaneous targets available at any particular time...passing this requirement is also known as Rifle Qualification.

Weeks 7-9: Blue Phase The culminating phase of BCT, Soldiers combine the skills they learned in earlier phases of training to complete advanced combat tasks.

Advanced Rifle Marksmanship (close combat and use of aiming tools such as lasers)Patrol and attack as a squadManeuver and engage targets as part of a teamEmploy "crew-served" and more powerful weaponsM240B Machine GunAT4 Anti-Tank Rocket LauncherM203 40mm Grenade LauncherMilitary Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT - Fighting in a city)Convoy DefenseImprovised Explosive Device (IED) DefeatLong-distance Road Marching with combat loadForward Operating Base (FOB) operationsControl Point operations

Week 10: Graduation The final week of BCT is all about you and your Family. After completing the final training events to include a week of field training and a 15km march under load back into the main part of the post, Soldiers are given a day with their Families to catch up and share their experiences. On the following day, Soldiers graduate and are sent to the next phase of their training that in almost all cases is Advanced Individual Training (AIT).

PICTURES (AKA “SNAPSHOT SUNDAY”)

When will you post pictures? Can we make photo request? How do I find pictures of my soldier?

This is a luxury and is only accomplished through the generosity of the FRG volunteers. All the pictures that are posted on our 3-13 Facebook page are free. Pictures are posted by company and not platoon. Please refer to the address breakdown if you do not know what a company is.

Company pictures will be posted at the end of each week, usually on Saturday or Sunday, into albums specific for each company.

Pictures are posted at a time that is convenient for our volunteers! Some volunteers may have time in the morning while others may have time in the evening. Do not ask what time your company’s pictures will be posted.

Our goal is to give you a glimpse into your soldier’s world. It is NOT to provide you with a picture of your particular soldier. Please refrain from making picture requests as they will not be tolerated and may result in you being banned from the page.

Our volunteers do their best to get a variety of soldiers in the photos, but we do not guarantee you will see your soldier in any of the pictures. There are over 200 soldiers in each of the 5 companies so consider it a bonus if you get even one face shot of your loved one!

There may be times that matters happen beyond our control and photographing your soldiers may not be possible, whether it be a last minute change in the training schedule or the volunteer may have their own personal matter to deal with, so please be patient and understanding. A message will be posted in the event pictures are delayed.

We suggest you save all the pictures posted of your Soldier’s Company even if they do not contain your Soldier. Your Soldier may want them and you can always delete them later. Once our site comes down after the cycle ends all pictures will be deleted to reset for the next group. We do not save pictures from cycle to cycle. It is also important to note that tagging your Soldier in a picture is not allowed, so you will need to download it to save it. You can, however, share pictures on your own Facebook page.

There is a website NOT connected to 3-13 that will post pictures of your Soldier’s during training as well. This page does charge for their photos though. The web address is www.basictrainingphotos.com. Once you are on that site use the drop down box to select the company abbreviation with 313 behind it. For example if your Soldier’s company is Alpha you will look for A313 with no date behind it. We cannot give you any information about this site, other than what has already been given because we are not affiliated with it. So please do not ask.

ANSWERING QUESTIONS

Our FRG volunteers are here to help and will be answering questions regularly, but this does not mean that your question will be answered immediately or even on the same day. We try to answer them in a timely manner.

You may post your question at any time under the questions tab, but please understand you will not receive an answer immediately. The questions are divided by subject, so please make sure to post them in the correct spot.

Please keep your questions to the “need to know” kind rather than the “like to know” kind. Our volunteers have very busy schedules so please respect their time by asking relevant questions that ARE NOT ALREADY ANSWERED IN THE FSG or CL.

Information that you have already been given in the FSG will not be repeated. Any question that has already been asked and answered will not be answered again. We suggest you read the entire FSG, print it out, and refer back to it BEFORE you ask a question.

You may not be able to access the FSG, CL, or questions tab from a mobile phone unless you open it up in a web browser. Often times if you are using the Facebook app it will not appear on your screen. If you have problems accessing the information we suggest using a computer.

PHONE CALLS AND INTERNET ACCESS

When will I receive phone calls?

Throughout your soldiers 10 weeks of BCT he/she on average will have 3 opportunities for phone calls, one after arriving (to give you their address) and another at the end of weeks 4 and 8. Incentive phone calls may be given at the discretion of the Company Commander and are not scheduled. These phone calls are a privilege and may be taken away or granted at any time.

The initial call giving you the address counts as your red phase phone call. We know it was only 10 seconds long, but it still counts!

The FRG volunteers who run the Facebook page do not know when phone calls will occur. If they find out ahead of time they will post it on the page. Questions about when phone calls may occur will not be tolerated. In addition soldiers may have the chance to earn additional phone calls by excelling in training such as PT and scoring high on BRM, just to name a few.

When incentive phone calls are permitted there will be a time limit, usually no more than 5-10 minutes, and it is up to the soldier as to who they will call.

For some soldiers placing a phone call can be mentally challenging, as they want to stay focused on the mission at hand (graduating BCT) thus why some may not call anyone. Some soldiers will opt to call a best friend or a girlfriend/boyfriend instead of family.

If you are unavailable when your soldier attempts to call it is up to each Company Command Team as to whether your soldier will be granted a second attempt.

We recommend you be uplifting and encouraging if and when you receive a call. The area code for Ft. Jackson/Columbia is 803, but the call may come from a different area code.

In some cases soldiers will share a cell phones to make calls or they may use the pay phones available at the Battalion.

If you do not hear from your soldier “no news is good news.”

Can we send them cell phones?

Cell phones are collected at the beginning of BCT and stored away. Any cell phones mailed will be locked away with the others.

Soldiers will receive their phones back, usually, on the day before Family Day.

Do our Soldiers have access to the Internet while in BCT?

No. Due to this we ask that you refrain from posting personal messages to your soldiers on the main page, as they will not receive them!

Can I call the company or battalion to get updates on my soldier?

No. You will need to keep in contact with your soldier through letters and phone calls (when permitted). Soldiers should keep you abreast to their training in these letters.

If you have any questions or concerns we urge you to use this Facebook page to address them. Please understand that we will NOT provide information about an individual soldier’s progress in BCT.

In general, no news from official channels is good news!

**Generally you should hear from your soldier within 72 hours of arriving to their unit to provide you with their company, platoon and address information. Again this is not always the case, in the event you have not heard from your soldier within 7-10 days of their arrival, you may call the Fort Jackson Installation Operations Center at (803)751-7671 for assistance in determining their location. You will need your SIT's full name and social security number.

VISITING

Can we visit our soldier while they are in BCT?

NO, you will be denied seeing your soldier by the company command or DS. Any attempt in visiting will put your soldier at risk of getting into trouble.

ADDITIONAL MAIL INFO**Note: Please make sure to read the Mail FAQ’S in the Commander’s Letter, as the information below is a supplement to that.

Fort Jackson is a large military installation and it takes time to get mail to your SITs. It is a five step process for roughly 13,000 pieces of daily mail; arrival at the Fort Jackson post office, to our brigade, to each of the five battalions, and then to one of five companies in our battalion, and then sorted one more time to each of the four platoons. This entire process takes approximately 3-5 days beyond the time to get from your house to Columbia, South Carolina.... puts new meaning to the phrase “snail mail”! Not to mention the last 3-4 steps are all HAND sorted. Mail may take as long as 2 weeks (10 business days) to get to your soldier. Do not let this discourage you, this process is explained to your soldiers as well.

Your strongest source of communication with your soldiers will be through mail, so please write, write, write.

Remember your soldier is very busy and may not be able to write back as often as they would like or even at all. Mail is a HUGE moral booster – keep sending letters! We cannot stress this enough! Thus explaining why it is in here twice!

**Tip from previous families—send self addressed/stamped envelopes to the soldiers, easier for them to write back, include addressed envelopes to other family members and friends.**

Soldiers have access to the troop store frequently, so please do not send items in bulk as their space is limited.

It is suggested to send your mail through the USPS, sending mail via UPS or FedEx will not get a package to your soldier any faster, as all incoming mail to Ft. Jackson is delivered to the APO (Army Post Office) and distributed with the general USPS mail.

In addition, please do not send mail to the attention of the battalion commander. Contrary to popular belief this does not get the mail to your soldier faster, it in fact will heed the process.

**You will get mail FROM your Soldier quicker than your Soldier will get mail FROM you.**

TRICARE / DEERS / MILITARY IDs/FINANCE

When will I receive my Tricare (health insurance) packet?

Most will receive their packet within 2 weeks of their soldier in-processing, it can take up to 4 weeks. You must be enrolled in DEERS in order to use your Tricare benefits. Contact your local Tricare office

to verify enrollment http://www.military.com/benefits/tricare/tricare-service-centers.

Once you are enrolled, you will have medical coverage. Please contact your local Tricare office to

find a medical provider in your area.

DEERS Contact Information: Toll-free: 1-800-538-9552 TTY/TTD: 1-866-363-2883

Obtaining your military I.D.

Your soldier will get you enrolled while in-processing at reception, form DD172 will be sent to you within 2-4 weeks of in-processing.

Your soldier will maintain control over the documents needed to enroll you in DEERS/TRICARE. YOU WILL LIKELY NEED THESE DOCUMENTS BACK so please write to your solider and give them a reminder to send them back ASAP.

To locate the nearest I.D. Card issuing office visit here http://www.dmdc.osd.mil/rsl/owa/home (NOTE it does not need to be an Army branch office to issue you the I.D.) Be sure to bring all documentation with you, generally it is the DD172 form, Drivers License, and Social Security card. Be sure to call them to verify the documentation you need to bring. Also most offices can schedule you an appointment, doing so will cut down your wait time.

When will my soldier start receiving pay?

Pay can take up to TWO months to begin (your soldier will receive back pay).

We are unable to provide or assist you in any way regarding pay.

If your soldier has any questions, he/she needs to go through the Drill Sergeants to make an appointment with finance. The soldier is the only one that finance will speak to regarding pay issues.

ADDITIONAL EMERCENCY INFO

What do I do if there is a family emergency?

If any emergencies arise while your soldier is in BCT contact Red Cross. They will go through the proper channels in getting the information to your soldier.

The number for is Red Cross: 1 (877) 272-7337 Have the following: Full name, Rank/rating, Branch of service (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), Social Security number or date of birth, and Military address.

Contacting the company or the battalion with an emergency prior to contacting Red Cross will only slow the message getting to your soldier, as the Army has policies set in place for notifications to the soldiers, first is receiving the message from Red Cross.

HOW DO I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BEING A NEW ARMY SPOUSE/PARENT/FAMILY?

What informative information can you provide to new spouses?

Enroll with Army OneSource, here we encourage you to take the online AFTB I class. It is very informative on managing your finance, rank structure, etc.

http://www.myarmyonesource.com/FamilyProgramsandServices/...FamilyPrograms/ArmyFamilyTeamBuilding/default.aspx

There are also several Vimeo videos:

http://www.vimeo.com/10235268

http://www.vimeo.com/10237570

http://www.vimeo.com/10237678

http://www.vimeo.com/10237625

http://www.vimeo.com/10350954

http://www.vimeo.com/10350677

FAMILY DAY AND GRADUATION INFO

When should we expect the Graduation Letter?

Our Battalion does not send out graduation letters or packets. Any additional information will be provided through our Facebook page.

Who can attend Family Day and graduation?

EVERYONE is invited to attend both Family Day and Graduation, there is no limit and there are no tickets needed to attend.

What do I need to get on post?

Everyone over the age of 16 is required to show a valid, government-issued photo ID (A current school ID will work for anyone who is still in school). If you are driving onto post you will also need current registration and proof of insurance for the vehicle. If you have a rental car the rental agreement will serve as registration; however, if you declined insurance due to coverage from your own policy you will need your current vehicle insurance card as well. If you take a taxi onto post you will only need your ID as the taxi driver will provide the rest.

Can I get a post pass prior to Family Day and Graduation?

Fort Jackson no longer issues passes for entry onto post. Each time you enter post you will simply be required to show your ID (as described above) and ID for all passengers 16 and older. You may not have to show your registration and insurance each time, but you are required to have it if asked.

Can my Soldier visit Weston Lake on Family Day?

No, Soldiers must remain on post at all times on Family Day. In order to access Weston Lake exiting Ft. Jackson is required, therefore the SITs are unable to go.

Can we bring signs to the ceremonies?

Yes, however out of courtesy for those around you we asked that you sit to the top of the bleachers so as not to obstruct the view of others.

Is there handicap parking and access at Hilton Field?

Yes. The MP's will direct you to parking for handicap. On both the far right and far left of the bleachers there is wheelchair access into the stands. Fort Jackson does not provide wheelchairs.

What if it rains, where will the ceremonies be held?

Ceremonies will be held at the Solomon Center in the event of inclement weather. An announcement will be made on the page the morning of Family Day or Graduation if there is inclement weather.

Can we bring strollers?

You can bring strollers, but remember seating is on a first come first served basis, so if you arrive late and do not get a front row seat, you will be asked to park the stroller under the bleachers until the ceremony is over.

Can we bring pets?

Pets ARE allowed on Fort Jackson, but are not allowed at Hilton Field (except service dogs). The weather may be quite warm, so please plan accordingly if you bring your pet – do not leave them in the car.

How early can we arrive?

Arrival time is up to you, some will start to arrive as early as 2 hours in advance, expect delays when getting onto post. (Although your hotel information may state 1 mile from main gate or 5 minutes to main gate, remember you are not entering through the main gate, you are to enter at gate 4 as directed on the map).

What is the proper dress for Family Day and Graduation?

Most will dress casual to dressy casual. If you are Active Duty military, National Guard or Reserves, you are welcome to wear your uniform if you wish – it is not required.

Please remember this is a Family event on a military post - dress appropriately. There is no dress code, but you should have all your personal parts covered and not be wearing any clothing with offensive language.

What address do I type in the GPS to get to Fort Jackson?

10000 Lee Road Columbia, South Carolina 29207. Once you get onto Ft. Jackson follow the blue line that is painted on the roads. It will lead you directly to Hilton Field.

When will I know if my Soldier is NOT graduating?

They continue to train right up Family Day so it is possible you may not be notified until then. They are given as many opportunities as possible to meet the graduation requirements and may be doing repeat training in an attempt to meet the requirements till the last possible moment. REMEMBER NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS!!!

What happens if my Soldier does not graduate?

Each situation is different! It depends on why your Soldier did not graduate. Most of the time you are still permitted to spend time with your Soldier at the company area after the official part of Family and Graduation Day, but it is up to the Company Commander. Your Soldier will not be allowed to participate in the official Family Day or Graduation Day activities at Hilton Field.

If I am immediate family, my Soldier’s AIT is on the approved transport list, and I choose to drive my Solider to AIT when can they leave?

Your Soldier can leave right after graduation. You will just need to sign them out first. Typically Soldiers are given just enough time to travel to the location. So you will want to get on the road ASAP.

Who does the Army consider immediate family?

For the purposes of being able to sign your Soldier out for transport to AIT or a graduation day pass the Army considers parents, grandparents, legal guardians, and spouses immediate family. Unfortunately brothers, sisters, girlfriends, boyfriends, fiancés do NOT count per Army regulation.

When will my Soldier have to report to AIT?

Your Soldier will get a final set of orders just before graduation that will tell them when they must arrive at AIT. They are usually only given enough time to travel there though no matter what the original set of orders said.

Will my Soldier get a weekend pass after signing in at AIT?

We cannot answer that. It is up to each AIT and your Soldier will not find this information out until they arrive at AIT.

What if I am not driving my Soldier to AIT?

You may sign your Soldier out for an OFF post pass on graduation day. Your Soldier must be returned to Fort Jackson at their unit no later than 8:30 pm the evening of graduation. After your Soldier is back at the company area you will not be able to spend any more time with them.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Hotels

There is an abundance of hotels in the Columbia area. There are many sites out there to help you with your bookings (i.e. Hotels.com, Expedia.com, orbitz.com just to name a few).

You can also contact Victory Travel on-post here at Ft. Jackson http://fortjacksonmwr.com/travel/ and at 1-800-221-3503. They can assist you in finding a hotel at discounted rates.

We STRONGLY encourage you to make travel arrangements that are refundable. Approximately 10% of arriving Soldiers will not graduate for various reasons.

There are a couple of options for on-post lodging here at Ft. Jackson. On-post lodging will fill up fast, so be sure to book early. You may contact them at 1-877-711-8326 or 803-782-9802 or www.ihg.com.

Additional information regarding area hotels:

All information listed below is based off of exits that make it easy for you to reach Fort Jackson within a 10-15 minute drive. However getting through the gate may take up to an hour during heavy traffic. Interstate 77 (I-77) has two main exits that lead you directly into Fort Jackson.

Exit 15 (Percival Rd) is the gate to enter for graudation. There are road signs and a blue line on the road leading you directly to Hilton Field for both Family Day and Graduation (helps you avoid every day morning traffic/traffic lights and areas where other units have PT going on).

Victory Travel, located on Fort Jackson, is a great resourse for hotel referrals. 1-800-221-3503

Most hotels offer a free continental breakfast that would be convenient for the early mornings of the events at Fort Jackson. Please inquire with reservations as many will offer you a “Graduation Rate” and it is safer to call the hotel directly to receive that rate. Toll Free Reservationists do not have the capability of offering you this deal. I have comprised this list by the hotels nearest to Fort Jackson with a variety of restaurants, market needs and easiest routes to post. If you have time, visit hotel web sites to view rooms and amenities.

SOUTH OF FORT JACKSON at Exit 9 off I77, the main strip is Garners Ferry Road.

Comfort Inn and Suites (7329 Garner Ferry Rd) phone: (803) 695-5555

Days Inn (7300 Garners Ferry Rd) phone: (803) 783-5500

La Quinta (7333 Garners Ferry Rd) phone: (803) 783-5410

Holiday Inn Express (7329 Garners Ferry Rd) phone:(803) 695-1111

Candlewood Suites (921 Atlas Rd, just off Garners Ferry Rd) phone: (803) 727-1299

Quality Inn (7251 Garners Ferry Rd) phone: (803) 776-1700

Sleep Inn (803) 776-6263

Country Suites and Inn (803) 776-6660

Best Western Inn (803) 695-0666

NORTH OF FORT JACKSON at Exit 17 (Two Notch Rd) off I77: the main strip has many restaurants, lots of fast food chains, markets, and if you travel east, The Village at Sandhills, which has many restaurants and a strip mall. Many of the hotels listed are only seconds from the on-ramp to I-77 South.

Residence Inn: 2320 Legrand Road, Columbia, SC 29223; (803) 788-8850

located beside Cracker Barrel offers two bedroom suites with full kitchens & living rooms; outdoor pool (turn left at the light right by Holiday Inn & follow the road around...Residence Inn will be on the right)

Holiday Inn (8105 Two Notch Rd) phone: (803)736-5600 {full service with restaurant}

La Quinta (1538 Horseshoe Dr, right off Two Notch Rd) phone: (803) 736-6400

Wingate Hotel at Windham (8300 Two Notch Rd) phone: (803) 699-9333

Quality Inn (8104 Two Notch Rd) phone: (803) 736-0822

Microtel Hotel (1520 Barbar Dr, right off Two Notch Rd) phone: (803) 736-3237

Comfort Inn (7700 Two Notch Rd) phone: (803) 788-5544 {a little older}

Comfort Suites (1540 Daulton Dr, off Two Notch Rd at the IHOP) phone: (803) 678-4266

indoor pool, free continental breakfast and graduation rate

Jameson Hotel (7525 Two Notch Rd) phone: (803) 736-6666

Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriot (120 Blarney Dr, off Two Notch Rd) phone: (803) 760-1700

Other Hotels across the interstate from Gate 2 at Exit 12:

Extended Stay America (5430 Forest Dr) phone: (803) 782-2025

Super 8 Motel (5321 Forest Dr) phone: (803) 790-1133

Econo Lodge (4488 Fort Jackson Blvd) phone: (803) 738-0510

FORT JACKSON LODGING – (803) 782-9802 or 800-276-6984

There are three hotels located on Fort Jackson that are available for lodging. All three are operated by IHG and can be reserved using the number above. For more information you may also visit their website: http://www.ihg.com/armyhotels/hotels/us/en/reservation/hotelsearchresult?qBsCd=ZYK&qAdlt=1&qChld=0&qRms=1&qPSt=0&qRtP=6CBARC&qSmP=3&qWch=0&qSHp=1&qBrs=ic.cp.in.vn.hi.ex.rs.cv.sb.cw.6c&qSrt=BRAND_SORT&qRpp=10&qRRSrt=rt&qLat=0&qLng=0&srb_u=1

Fort Jackson MWR also offers rentals for Jack’s Inn, a former housing area with 2 bedroom apartment style lodging, and cabins at Weston Lake. WESTON LAKE IS NOT ON POST AND GRADUATES WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO VISIT THIS AREA ON FAMILY DAY. IF YOU RESERVE A CABIN THERE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE YOUR SOLDIER WITH YOU ON FAMILY DAY, BUT THEY CAN VISIT THE CABINS ON GRADUATION DAY WHEN THEY ARE GIVEN AN OFF POST PASS.

Weston Lake phone: (803)751-5253

offers cabin rentals through MWR on the Southeast end of Fort Jackson, not located on post, you will use Exit 9 and is a distance from I-77. Because you have to exit Fort Jackson to get to Weston Lake, it is off limits to Soldiers on Family Day.

*The above locations/phone numbers may have changed. If you need more information, Google.com is a good resource. You may also call Victory Travel, 1-800-221-3503 for Hotel referrals.

Airports

Columbia Metropolitan (CAE) http://www.columbiaairport.com/ 30 min to post Augusta Regional Airport, GA (AGS) http://www.flyags.com/ 1 ½ hours to post Charlotte International, NC http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/Airport/Pages/default.aspx 1hr45min -

post The above three are the commonly used airports, though you may find better rates with Greeneville International, SC http://www.gspairport.com/ 1 hr 50 min to post Charleston International, SC http://www.chs-airport.com/ 1 hr 50 min to post

BUS

Columbia Greyhound http://www.greyhound.com/. The address is 2015 GERVAIS ST Columbia, SC 29204

TRAIN

Amtrak http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage . The address is 850 Pulaski St Columbia, SC 29204

CABS

Blue Ribbon Taxi Cab - 803-754-8163

Yellow Checker Cab 803-799-3311