Graduation information

Events

THURSDAY
Four visitor briefings (8:30am, 11:00 am, 12:30 pm or 2:00 pm)
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.	Family sign-in at the BMT Reception
10:00 a.m.	Two-mile Airman’s Run
4:45 p.m.	Honor Grad Recognition Ceremony
5:00 - 7:30 p.m.	Dinner Buffet at Mitchell Hall
8:00 p.m.	Airmen are due back inside their dorms
FRIDAY
7:15 a.m.	Events Briefing at BMT Reception Center
7:45 a.m.	Buses depart from BMT Center to the Parade Grounds
9:00 a.m.	Graduation Parade begins
10:00 a.m.	Buses depart to the Reception Center
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.	Squadron Open House
11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.	Lunch at Mitchell Hall
5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.	Dinner Buffet at Mitchell Hall
8:00 p.m.	Airmen are due back inside their dorms
SATURDAY
9:00 a.m.	Airmen are released from their squadrons for Town Pass
8:00 p.m.	Airmen are due back inside their dorms
SUNDAY
6:30 a.m.	Church services begin
9:00 a.m.	Airmen are released from their squadrons for Base Liberty
9:00 a.m.	Sunday Brunch at the Gateway Club
6:00 p.m.	Airmen are due back inside their dorms

This schedule is taken from airforce.com.
Things can and do change the graduation weekend schedule. My H was released at 0600 on Sunday morning instead of 0900. There is also a coin ceremony after the Airman's run on Thursday. I also highly recommend going to one of the visitor briefings, especially the one after the Airman's Run. I know a couple wives who missed seeing their husband run because they went to the first briefing and didn't hear the announcement that the run got moved up.

Hotel
We got a room on base, mostly because H's dad is retired and pulled a few strings. For us it worked amazing. After the Airman's run on Thursday he was able to come back to the room as well as the other days he wasn't allowed off base. I remember Sunday they aren't allowed off base and they got released at 0600 so it was definitely nice to go pick him up at that time, come back and sleep for a few hours before church. Some people say they want to be off base because their Airmen want to be as far away from the base as possible. At least we never had to worry about getting him back late.

Here is a link to billeting (on base lodging) on Lackland AFB
Here is a link to a list of hotels near Lackland AFB. Carefree Inn is RIGHT outside the gate, but personally it looked like a complete dump, at least from the outside.

Rental Car
I would highly recommend a rental car. They had the bus that took you to down town San Antonio, but it's packed. It's nice to be able to go where you want when you want. Remember Lackland is a big base as well.

Here is the link to Enterprise on Lackland AFB
Here is a link to a list of rental cars in San Antonio.

Arrival
We arrived in San Antonio Wednesday night, which was perfect. His mom and I didn't sleep at all that night. It was so exciting to know that we were now in the same city, and I was going to be seeing him the next day! Some people don't come until Thursday, but I would hate to have missed the Airman's Run and extra time with him. Also, if you can't get a late flight on Sunday I would definitely say to leave Monday morning. We were lucky and got a flight that left at 10 and H had to be in the dorms by 6 so it gave us plenty of time.

Here is a link to the SAT Airport.
If it's just you (the spouse) going, make sure when you book your plane ticket to call the airline directly. You can normally get a better rate talking to the person and a lot of them offer Military Discounts even to spouses. Remember when you are at the airport, you can stay in the USO before your flight. They are little lounge areas for Military members and families usually with free wifi, couches, snacks and sodas. They are normally before you go through security, if you don't know where it is in your airport don't be afraid to ask someone.

Make sure you have money on you
They sell all different kinds of souvenirs at the gift shop. Some of it is really neat and Lackland is pretty much the only base where you can get "my brother is an US Airman" shirts. They also will have an opportunity to order pictures and DVD's of BMT. Don't worry if you don't want to get it there you can order them online. Double check with your H/BF/FI before you order though, like my H already ordered everything so we didn't have to worry about it.

Do's
WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHES AND SHOES!! You do tons of walking and standing around so heals may be cute, but you will be in a lot of pain!

Don't forget your camera! Just make sure where you are taking pictures are in the common areas.

Depends what time your going, but bring clothes for all different kinds of weather. It rains all the time down there.

It's okay to wear jeans to the graduation, it is outside and if you are going in the summer it is HOT! You will see a lot of younger wives/GF/FI dressed like they're ready to make some money.

Abide by the PDA rule. Your Airman will get in trouble and could possible get recycled or not be able to see you the rest of the weekend. Remember there are MTI's all around downtown and at the events so even when you're off base you still need to follow the rules.

Remember that everything you do on base reflects on your Airman. If you get a ticket, they will get in trouble for it.

Don'ts
Speed, run red lights or stop signs. Right turn on red is permitted as long as you make a complete stop.

Talk on your cell phone while driving. This includes texting.

Bring him back to the base late. He will get in trouble and you won't be able to see your Airman the next day.

Don't smoke on base! Unless it is a designated area.

Park in the parking lots next to the dorms.

When you're allowed to visit his/her dorm do NOT walk down the center aisle, throw garbage in the trash can and drink out of the water fountain.

Things to do on base and in the area
Southeast Asia Airpark
Global Airpark Museum
Securit y Forces Museum
History and Tradit ion Museum
Air Force Enlisted Art Gallery in the Recept ion Center
Arnold Hall Communit y Center
Skylark Communit y Center
Skylark Bowling Alley
Gateway Theater
Golf Course
Family Camping
Officer/Enlisted Club (co­located)

On Saturdays, city bus service is available from the Reception Center to the United
Services Organizat ion (USO), one block from the Riverwalk in downtown San Antonio.
Round­trip service starts at 9:20 a.m. and runs in 20­minute intervals. The last bus leaves
the USO at 6:40 pm. Fare is $2.00 per person, each way, exact change only. Children ride
at a reduced or free fare.


Extra's
When I went to H's graduation they offered sporting events off base Friday and Saturday night. If the Trainee signed up for them they were allowed to go and be off base later than the curfew. Of course they had to be back RIGHT after the games were over. Friday night was basketball and Saturday night was baseball. It was nice being able to spend a little more time with him.

Bring a suitcase of civilian clothes for your Airman. I got H a laptop for his Graduation gift. I planned on just putting it in his suitcase for him to find, but I couldn't wait and it was nice for him to be able to use it that weekend. I also made a scrapbook and wrote little notes and hid them in his suitcase for him to find. He loved the scrapbook. He actually said some of the other Airmen were jealous that their wives/girlfriends didn't do anything like that. He still has it with him at his dorm now in Tech School.

Take TONS of pictures! We were so caught up in the moment and we didn't get any pictures of us or him and his parents at graduation. To look back on it I really wish we would have.

Don't over plan anything, but also have things in mind. If you plan on going to six flags make sure you visit ITT (Information, Tickets & Travel) on Thursday or Friday because they are closed on Saturday. The Riverwalk in down town San Antonio is extremely nice. I loved it down there, but be careful there are people in the AF all over down there watching out for graduating Airmen breaking rules.

Sea World has a deal for AD (Active Duty) Military and up to 3 dependents (have to be a spouse or child) to get in for free, it's called Hero Salute. A lot of graduating Airmen go there. It has a few roller coasters and water rides. It was nice for H to be able to do something fun. If you visit that website you can register there, but I would wait until you go down for graduation. Your Airman can just go up to the ticket for Military and they will have you fill out a form and see his ID as well as the dependents that are getting in. You can only use Hero Salute one time per year.

There is absolutely NO drinking graduation weekend. They WILL be recycled if they get caught.

If your Airman's parents are going as well be sure to kindly let them know that you would like some alone time with your H/BF/FI before you get down there. Luckily H's parents thought about it before we did and gave us a couple hours together Friday afternoon at Sea World and then got us/me a room to myself on Saturday night (we stayed on base). So H came to the room for a couple hours Saturday afternoon and then they got released extra early for base liberty Sunday so he was able to come back to the room and sleep a few hours with me until Church.

Make sure your Airman has their flashlight every night! If they get caught walking without one back to the dorms they will be in BIG trouble.

A few pictures from BMT and Graduation: