AIT graduation from Fort Benning

[laurenskido]

Hi there,
I currently have a family member who is doing his AIT training in Fort Benning. He started it on August 8th, 2008. Does anyone know when the graduation will be? If so please reply ASAP:). We keep hearing the 26th and we need to know to make the arrangements to go down there.( We are from PA).

Thank you:o

[MSG Glenn]

You or his parents should have received a packet listing the date, time & location of the graduation. There's even a map of Ft. Benning with the location clearly marked.

I assume he's graduating from Infantry School. If that's the case there's another ceremony the day befor graduation called "Turning Blue". That's where the new Infantrymen receive the Blue Cord worn around their right shoulder & family members are encouraged to come into the formation & put the cord on. I did at my son's Turning Blue ceremony 4 1/2 years ago. I also pinned his Ranger Tab on his left upper sleeve a year & a half later.

I wouldn't have missed either for the world. Even wore my class A uniform.

[Usarmy6288]

basic and ait are 13 weeks and you graduate in ACUs at a time of war so no blue cord cermony

[MSG Glenn]

My son graduated in Class Bs in a time of war & went through the Blue Cord ceremony as well as several of his friends, the last about a year ago.

I can't think of any other MOS taught at Benning except Infantry. In that case it would be an OSUT graduation. Although someone going to Infantry School for reclass skipping BCT would just be going to the AIT phase.

[Txmom42]

My son also graduated in class B's at Fort Benning last summer.

[Armygirl4Ever]

basic and ait are 13 weeks and you graduate in ACUs at a time of war so no blue cord cermony

They still very much so do the Blue Cord Ceremony, that is the biggest deal!! I have four friends on the trail right now at Benning who confirmed this.

[supportingsoul]

I also have a question concerning the graduation at Fort Benning. How can I get graduation information? It is very possible packet information is not getting forwarded properly because of divorce, so I was hoping there was a telephone number I could call to get the information.

[MSG Glenn]

I have some contact information from over 4 years ago when my son graduated from Infantry School that you might be able to use. It's on a sheet that has the heading of "Infantry Training Brigade Contact Information".

Company : (706) 544-8520/9959
Staff Duty NCO : (706) 544-9211
Infantry Training Brigade Web Site : http://www.benning.army.mil/itb

Try those & if they're not the right numbers possibly you'll be given a different number to call.

If you know what Battalion & Regiment he's in you can try these numbers :

1-19 IN (706) 544-9253
2-19 IN (706) 544-8387
1-50 IN (706) 544-8887
2-54 IN (706) 544-9121
2-58 IN (706) 544-9756

These are the Duty Desks of the various units in the Infantry Training Brigade.

I hope this will prove to be a help to you.

[MSG Glenn]

Supportingsoul,

Have you tried any of these numbers? Did any work for you?

I went through considerable trouble figuring out where I had that information stored & then digging it out & finding the right page.

I thought you were in a big hurry to get this info.

[Armydad]

Well I'm a new member of the extended Army family. My son has just enlisted with a goal of Ranger. I'm more than proud of who he is and what has motivated his enlistment.

My first question comes from a need to arrange my schedules to show my support for him. I'm short on knowledge as I myself did not serve in the military. His path will take him through Basic then Infantry AIT.

I have some work requirements overseas with some general flexibility to schedule them. We live quite far from Georgia and I am concerned that I may not be able to attend two graduations so close together and meet the overseas obligation.

If a parent could only make one, Basic or AIT, which would be most important to the soldier? I really have a strong desire to make all graduations, and will be endeavoring to do that but ....

At this point I am operating under the assumption there is a separate graduation for each: Basic, infantry, AIT, Airborne and Ranger. Any information and advice on how to support my soldier the "the experienced parents and soldiers who've been there" might have I would sure appreciate!

Proud to be the father of a good man.

[airbornemom]

There will only be one graduation for basic and AIT. Your son is going through what is called OSUT, One Station Unit Training. Graduation will be when his training is all completed for basic and AIT. However, there will be another graduation for Airborne, Airborne I belive is only 4 weeks long. They will also have what is called Family Day, that is where they have a small ceremony saying that your son is now a soldier, which I think is about 6 or so weeks after they leave. I live quite aways from Georgia also, but I did fly down for Family Day, the next month I drove down for graduation and then the following month I flew down for Airborne graduation. I think the one you really do not want to miss is the graduation following AIT

[Txmom42]

I would agree. The OSUT graduation at the end is much more important. Unfortunately I did not get to attend because of obligations with one of his siblings, but I did get to go to Family weekend. We had a blast! So amazing to see the changes. I am keeping my fingers crossed I will get to pin on a Ranger Tab later this Spring. It's going to be a squeaker between graduation and the due date of a new grandbaby.