MCRD Parris Island releases guidance on reopening graduations

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island released guidance on Tuesday for a limited reopening of Recruit Graduations set to begin on May 7.

MCRD San Diego is also opening their Recruit Graduations to a limited number of guests. You can find guidance pertaining to their graduation ceremonies here.

MCRD Parris Island, one of two installations tasked with training all incoming recruits for service in the United States Marine Corps, is set to begin allowing a limited number of visitors for upcoming graduation ceremonies. Guests will be limited to those who already live or work aboard MCRD Parris Island, command approved visitors, and two guests for each graduating recruit.

According to an official statement released on Tuesday, the two guests permitted to attend will be chosen by the graduating recruit, and they will receive notification approximately two weeks before graduation will take place.

The first graduation to allow these visitors will take place on May 7, with confirmed visitors authorized to begin arriving on base beginning at 5 a.m. on that day. Visitors will need to utilize the random vehicle inspection gate when arriving at the installation and will be required to provide photo identification before entry. MCRD Parris Island has indicated that there will be prominent signs directing visitors on which gate to use and where to go once they’ve been cleared for entry.

Guests will also have to abide by COVID-19 mitigation measures that are already in place aboard MCRD Parris Island, which include:

• Wearing a face covering
• Social distancing between family groups
• Adhering to occupancy limits at building and facilities within the installation

Visitors who do not adhere to the Depot’s COVID mitigation measures will be asked to leave without attending the graduation.

Graduation ceremonies typically occur between 9 and 10 a.m., and immediately following graduation, new Marines will be authorized liberty aboard the depot that will continue until 1600. All visitors attending graduation will be required to depart by 1700, or 5:00 p.m. local time.

Marines will not be authorized leave following graduation, and will be required to travel directly to their follow-on appointed place of duty at the School of Infantry for training.

MCRD Parris Island has released the following as a tentative schedule for graduation ceremonies until further notice:

MCRD Parris Island Graduation schedule beginning May 7:

5 a.m. MCRD Parris Island opens for approved visitors

6 a.m. Douglas Visitor Center, Marine Corps Exchange and Java Cafe open

6:30 a.m. Trams begin operations

7:45 a.m. Morning Colors Ceremony

8 a.m. Depot Museum Opens

9 a.m. – 10 a.m. Graduation Ceremony

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. New Marine liberty

5 p.m. Visitors required to depart depot