Getting There

At a glance

• ✓Rental car recommended. Rideshares cannot enter base.
• ✓Enter via Luke East Gate (open 24/7). Real ID or passport for fastest entry.
• ✓Budget 30–45 min at the visitor center. Reception Center opens at 6:00 AM.

Graduation morning, step by step

1. 1

   The Reception Center opens at 6:00 AM. Leave your hotel with enough buffer to reach Lot A, the closest parking, before it fills, typically before 7 AM and earlier still on Thursday.

2. 2

   Drive to Valley Hi Gate (open 24/7), the more dependable of the two driving gates, or Selfridge West Gate. Selfridge West keeps full hours (5 AM to 5 PM) only on Wednesday, other weekdays it's open 5 to 8 AM and 3 to 5 PM, and it's closed federal holidays. If anyone in your group still needs a visitor pass issued or reprinted, go to Luke East Gate instead; its visitor center runs 24/7.

3. 3

   At the gate, show Real ID or passport for every adult 18 and older. Security searches all bags and issues a vehicle pass valid for the day before waving you through.

4. 4

   Staff direct you through Lot A first, then Lot B (about a 5 minute walk) once Lot A fills, and the Parade Grounds lot on Thursdays if both are full. All Reception Center parking is free.

5. 5

   From Lot A or Lot B, it is a short walk to the Reception Center entrance where both ceremonies check in guests.

6. 6

   Arriving by Uber or Lyft instead? They cannot drive onto base, so you will be dropped at the Luke East visitor center lot (then a pedestrian bridge) or the Valley Hi gate visitor center lot (follow Truemper St), each about a 0.7 mile walk in. The Valley Hi lot is one-way in and out, so expect delays getting back out.

7. 7

   Traveling with someone who needs handicap parking or an accessible route? See our accessibility guide for parking arrangements and accessible viewing options.

Getting to base

Enter through Luke East Gate (1550 N. Ellsworth Blvd), the official primary gate for graduation. Its visitor center runs 24/7, where guests without a pass get one issued or reprinted. Valley Hi Gate is also open 24/7 and closest to the hotels, use it once every adult already has their Real ID and pass in hand. Budget 30–45 min for pass processing on graduation mornings.

Lackland AFB gate hours for BMT graduation

• Luke East Gate: Open 24/7. Visitor center: 24/7.
• Valley Hi Gate: Open 24/7. Pass desk: Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m..

Graduation mornings create traffic on Marbach Rd and Military Dr. Use GPS and leave earlier than you think you need to.

Visitor passes (VARL)

What is the VARL for BMT graduation?

VARL stands for Visitor Access Request List. Your Airman fills it out with their recruiter during the enlistment process, it's turned in to MEPS, which sends it along to BMT for the trainee to submit when they arrive. Everyone on the list gets a criminal background check against a Negative Fitness Matrix of disqualifying offenses. Once cleared, physical visitor passes are mailed out, typically around the third week of training.

When is the VARL submitted, and can I still be added?

The VARL is submitted during your Airman's Zero Week at BMT, the same list they started with their recruiter at MEPS. Once it's submitted, names cannot be added or changed, and passes are non-transferable between visitors. If you need to be on the list, tell your Airman before they leave for BMT so they can include you from the start.

What if I wasn't added to my Airman's VARL?

Once the VARL is submitted, names cannot be added or changed, so a family member left off the list can't be added after the fact, and passes are non-transferable, so you can't use someone else's. Talk to your Airman about who is on the list. Family members with their own DoD-issued ID (CAC or military, dependent, or retiree card) can still enter independently without a visitor pass either way.

What ID do I need with my VARL visitor pass?

Bring both your mailed visitor pass and a Real ID-compliant driver's license or passport (or another federally accepted alternative) to the gate. Visitors with their own DoD-issued ID (military, dependent, or retiree card, or a DoD civilian or contractor CAC, including Coast Guard CACs) don't need a VARL pass at all and can enter independently. A PIV badge from a non-DoD federal agency doesn't count; stay on the VARL if that's what you carry.

Do federal CAC or PIV cards count as a DoD ID for base access?

It depends on which card you carry. A CAC issued through the DoD's ID system counts, and that includes Coast Guard CACs even though the Coast Guard sits under DHS; gate scanners read them like any other CAC. JBSA's published valid-ID list covers military IDs (active, reserve, guard, dependent, retiree), DoD civilian cards, contractor cards, and the VA's Veterans Health ID Card (VHIC). A PIV badge from a non-DoD federal agency (DHS, VA, or any other) is not on that list, so on its own it won't get you through the gate; plan on the VARL visitor pass like any other guest. If you're unsure which card you hold and your Airman hasn't left for BMT yet, ask them to add you to the VARL as a safety net, it costs nothing and the list locks for good once they submit it during Zero Week. If Zero Week has already passed, the list can't be reopened, so your card either clears the gate on its own or it doesn't. The Lackland Visitor Control Center (lackland.vrc@us.af.mil) is the final word on edge cases.

Rental car & transportation

JBSA-Lackland is not accessible by public transit, and rideshare drivers cannot enter the base. You will need your own vehicle or a rental car for the week.

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Once you're on base

The two ceremonies

BMT graduation runs at two venues, both on base.

Wednesday, Coin Ceremony

Directions

Pfingston Reception Center. Concrete surfaces, metal bleachers, partially covered.

Image: U.S. Air Force

Thursday, Graduation Parade

Directions

Parade field. Grass and dirt, metal bleachers, fully exposed. Morning dew makes grass slippery.

Image: U.S. Air Force

If it rains, both ceremonies move to your Airman's squadron area, not the venues above. See the Graduation Day guide for the full rain plan.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from San Antonio airport to JBSA-Lackland?

San Antonio International Airport (SAT) is about 15 to 20 minutes from JBSA-Lackland via US-90 West. A rental car is your best bet since rideshares can't drive on base. If someone's dropping you off, they can only take you to the gate entrance.

What ID do I need to enter JBSA-Lackland for graduation?

All visitors 18+ need a valid photo ID. A passport or Real ID (gold star on your license) gets you through fastest. A regular driver's license still works, but you'll go through extra processing at the visitor center, which takes longer. Minors don't need ID if accompanied by an adult.

Can Uber or Lyft take me onto JBSA-Lackland?

No. Uber and Lyft will drop guests off at the gates. The car services are not allowed on the installation without proper access. Drop-off is at the Luke East visitor center parking lot (then a pedestrian bridge) or the Valley Hi gate visitor center lot (follow Truemper St), both about a 0.7 mile walk to the ceremony site. The Valley Hi lot is one-way in and out, so expect delays. A rental car is strongly recommended for graduation week.

Where do I park for BMT graduation at Lackland?

After entering through Luke East or Valley Hi Gate, head to the Pfingston Reception Center. There are three parking areas: Lot A is closest to the Reception Center entrance and fills first (arrive before 7 AM for this lot), Lot B is overflow and about a 5 minute walk, and the Parade Grounds lot is Thursday only with limited spaces. Staff will direct you on arrival. The Reception Center opens at 6:00 AM on graduation days.