The visitor pass process, what to bring to the gate, the special cases families ask about, and how to make parade morning easy — in plain English.
Here is the whole thing in a paragraph — the rest of this page is the detail behind it.
Every adult guest who does not already hold a military or Department of Defense (DoD) ID needs a Visitor Access Pass to get onto JBSA-Lackland for graduation. Your trainee requests those passes for up to six guests by submitting a Visitor Access Request Letter (VARL) — usually before they leave for Basic Military Training. Children under 18 attending with a parent are covered automatically, and anyone who already has a military or DoD ID can attend without being listed.
On the day, bring your pass and a valid government photo ID to the gate, plan to drive yourself, and arrive early. That is the core of it. Below: how the pass process actually runs, exactly what to bring, the special cases (foreign nationals, late additions), and parade-day logistics.
The Visitor Access Request Letter lists guests who need access. It is typically completed before BMT begins.
Passes cover up to six adults who do not already hold a military or DoD ID.
Children with a parent or guardian who has access do not need their own pass.
Each adult presents the Visitor Access Pass and a government-issued photo ID at the gate.
The one piece of paperwork that gets your family through the gate — and the timeline to expect.
The Visitor Access Request Letter comes from your trainee's recruiter and is generally completed before they depart for BMT. It lists each adult guest who will need base access. In rare cases, a trainee may contact family during training to finish it.
The information on the VARL is used for a criminal-history check, which must come back favorable for access to be granted. Plan to provide accurate details exactly as requested.
Once processed, Visitor Access Passes are typically mailed around the third week of training. Keep yours with your travel documents.
If you have not received your pass as graduation approaches, reach your Airman through an approved channel to follow up before you travel.
At the installation gate, each adult shows the Visitor Access Pass together with a valid government photo ID.
Up to six adults who do not already hold a military or DoD ID need to be on your trainee's visitor request.
Anyone with a current military or DoD ID (active, retired, or other cardholder) already has access and does not need to be listed.
Minors attending with a parent or guardian who has access do not need a separate pass of their own.
Your trainee may be able to add names up to a set maximum before graduation week. Confirm the current limit through official BMT guidance.
A valid government-issued photo ID for every adult. A REAL ID-compliant ID is the safe choice — it is required for domestic air travel, so if you are flying in, you will want one regardless. JBSA has historically accepted standard state driver's licenses for guests who are on the approved visitor list, but ID rules do change, so confirm the current policy on the official JBSA-Lackland access page before you travel.
Your Visitor Access Pass, kept with your travel documents. If you are driving onto base, also carry your driver's license, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance, and be ready for the vehicle and its occupants to be checked at the gate.
For foreign-national guests — and residents of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands — a standard background check may not be completable. If it cannot be cleared, the guest cannot enter until your graduated Airman sponsors them in person at the base visitor center. Call the visitor center at (210) 671-6169 with questions.
Access is denied for anyone with an outstanding warrant, on probation or parole, a registered sex offender, or with another serious offense on record.
If someone decides to come who was not on the first request, your trainee may be able to add them up to the maximum allowed — confirm timing and limits through official guidance.
Relatives who cannot travel can usually still watch — BMT graduation events are commonly live-streamed. Check the official BMT graduation page for the current link.
Plan to drive yourself. Rideshare access onto the installation is restricted, so most families rent a car and park on base. Review the official gate and parking guidance before the day — it is updated regularly with the latest entry points and lot information.
Arrive early. Graduation mornings draw large crowds and parking fills quickly, and the gate can back up at the security checkpoint. The closer you are staying, the later you can leave and still beat the rush — which is exactly why families who stay minutes from the gate have calmer mornings and more time on base.
Once your Airman has graduated, they can sponsor additional loved ones onto the base by meeting them at the visitor center (the Luke East Gate Visitor Center). This is handled first-come, first-served and can be slow during a busy graduation week, so build in time and set expectations with anyone planning to join later. Many Airmen ship to their next training the following day, so the window together after graduation is often short — plan the most of it.
Base access rules, schedules, and parking are updated regularly. These official pages are the authority — check them as your date approaches.
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