— Graduation guides · Marine Corps
What families should know before graduation at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, Parris Island, near Beaufort, South Carolina. Checked against official sources in September 2026.
— The basics
Official information: Morning Colors and Graduation, Graduation schedule. Schedules and rules change, so check there before you travel.
— On the day
— Questions families ask
Most families stay in Beaufort, South Carolina. MCCS runs a travel office, ITT and All Points Travel at 843-228-3557, that helps find a reputable hotel. Inns of the Corps Beaufort is an on-base hotel at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, about 8 miles from the depot. If you stay outside Beaufort, check the drive time to the depot before you book, because graduation week traffic at the front gate is heavy. Source
No pre-registration or event pass is required. Vehicle drivers need a valid ID, registration and proof of insurance, and every adult shows a valid photo ID at the gate. Foreign nationals must have a valid passport or license and proof they are in the U.S. legally. Plan for long lines at the front gate; the depot warns that graduating companies and their visitors are larger than they used to be. Source
Everyone comes through the front gate, and the depot warns of heavy traffic because graduating companies and their visitors are larger than they used to be. Once inside, military personnel direct traffic to the parking areas and free trams run from 7 a.m. both days, about 20 minutes apart. You will still walk a lot and climb stairs in the reviewing stands, so wear comfortable shoes. Bags are searched and you pass through metal detectors at the parade deck entrance on graduation day. Source
A REAL ID driver's license or another approved ID such as a U.S. passport for everyone 18 and older. A standard license from a state that is not REAL ID compliant may not be enough on its own, so bring a second government document such as a birth certificate or Social Security card. An expired passport is not an accepted document. Foreign nationals need a valid passport plus proof of legal status. Source
Family Day is Thursday: the Motivational Run starts at 7 a.m. and the Family Day Ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Peatross Parade Deck, followed by on-base liberty. Graduation is Friday: Morning Colors at 7:45 a.m. at Barrow Hall and the graduation ceremony at 9 a.m. on the Peatross Parade Deck, outdoors. Trams run from 7 a.m. both days and you will do a lot of walking, so arrive early and wear comfortable shoes. Bags are searched and you pass through metal detectors at the parade deck entrance. Source
On liberty Thursday, new Marines must stay on base. They can eat with you, bowl, shop at the Marine Corps Exchange and walk to the Yellow Footprints, the only time walking there is allowed. They may make personal calls and use the internet during on-base liberty. Off limits: the barracks and chow halls, the obstacle courses, the Crucible area, base housing and any barricaded or restricted area. Firearms and fireworks are prohibited on the depot. Ask your Marine's drill instructor guidance for anything you plan to hand them. Source
Recruits make one call the night they arrive, then everything is by letter. The first letter home arrives 7 to 9 days after arrival and carries the company and platoon number with the full mailing address. If a recruit is injured, delayed or transferred, they are allowed one call, and if they cannot reach you the recruiter is called. For questions about contacting a recruit, the recruiter is the official contact. For a true family emergency, contact American Red Cross Emergency Communication Services at 877-272-7337. Source
The depot posts graduation video through its official Facebook page and MCCS's Parris Island Recruit Families page after ceremonies, and streams when it can. MCCS also sells an official graduation DVD that ships 4 to 6 weeks after graduation. Check the depot's official Facebook page the week of graduation for the current link. Source
MCCS Recruit Photo still has platoon pictures going back decades, even when the yearbook is gone. Email sc.recruitphoto@usmc-mccs.org or call 843-228-1555 with your name, platoon number and the month and year you graduated. Your own service record, which lists the platoon, can be requested free from the National Personnel Records Center at vetrecs.archives.gov. Source
— The photos
Every photo from Parris Island becomes a numbered keepsake card, front and back, with the unit, the base and the date. You get a video and one page the whole family can open, and every card has a code on the back that opens it. Graduated a while ago? It is not too late.
— Sources
Checked in September 2026 against these official pages. CardMyService is not affiliated with the Department of Defense or any branch.