Training Center Cape May Community, Families, and Guests
 

Graduation Ceremony Locations:

• Indoor Season: Graduations will be held Indoors from 18 October 2024 until 2 May 2025 in the William R. Flores Gymnasium
• Outdoor Season: Graduations will be held outdoors* from 9 May 2025 until approximately October 2025 on the Parade Field.

*In the event of inclement weather, TCCM will shift outdoor ceremonies indoors to the Gymnasium. All times will remain the same.

Due to space limitations, attendance will be capped at five guests per recruit. Invitations will be extended by the recruits during their last few weeks of training. There will be no trading or exchanging of guest slots between recruits. Recruits will be required to confirm their guests' attendance during graduation week.

For those unable to attend the indoor graduation, Training Center Cape May will make every effort to stream the ceremony on Facebook live @U.S.CoastGuardTrainingCenterCapeMay. This service is provided as a courtesy and subject to change or cancellation.  

Our main gate will open to authorized graduation guests at 8:15 a.m. 

Upon arriving at the front gate, all guests must present a valid form of state or federal identification in order to gain access to the training center. All drivers must possess a valid driver’s license.

Please continue to check this webpage and our U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May (Official) social media page for updated information, as they are the only official sources of information from the Training Center.

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Graduations

Recruit training graduations are normally held on Fridays at 11:00 a.m. but can be changed to meet training center needs. To avoid conflict with certain Federal Holidays, graduations are sometimes shifted. DEPOT graduations are at 0850 in Ida Lewis Auditorium 

After the ceremony is concluded, recruits are free to depart. If you are unable to attend the ceremony, your recruit will be provided travel arrangements to execute their orders for authorized leave and reporting to their first units.

The pre-graduation family breakfast will be held at the Harborview on base at 8:30 a.m. at a cost of $10 per person. 

Families are invited to an on-base dinner at the Harborview on Thursday evenings. Registration links will be provided directly to family members by their recruits, and guests are limited to 5 per recruit.  There are two dinner seatings at 16:45 pm or 18:00 pm. Only guests who have registered will be permitted to attend. The price for dinner is $15 for adults and $10 for children under 12.

The graduation schedule is as follows and reflects an 8-week training program unless otherwise noted. Graduations are held on the Parade Field or the Flores Gymnasium depending on the season and/or weather. All dates are subject to change without notice:

DEPOT:
DEPOT Graduations are 8:50 a.m. in Ida Lewis Auditorium.
​The main gate will open at 8:05 a.m. to authorized DEPOT graduation guests.

GRADUATION DAY SCHEDULE

Indoor Graduation:

0815: Guest will be permitted to access the base for graduation events, all guest 18+ must have valid form of identification. No weapons or drugs of any kind are permitted onboard, all vehicles will be searched upon arrival.

0830-0945: Optional Family breakfast- Location: Harborview Club on-base. Cost: $10 per person

1005: Guests are invited watch the company march (weather permitting) – Location: Galley Ramp located outside of the main entrance to the SA William R. Flores Gymnasium

1025: Guests are invited to watch a pre-ceremony video – Location: SA William R. Flores Gymnasium

1100-1200: Graduation – Location: SA William R. Flores Gymnasium

Outdoor Graduation:

0815: Guest will be permitted to access the base for graduation events, all guest 18+ must have valid form of identification. No weapons or drugs of any kind are permitted onboard, all vehicles will be searched upon arrival.

0830-0945: Optional Family breakfast- Location: Harborview Club on-base. Cost: $10 per person

1000: Guests are invited to watch a pre-ceremony video – Location: Ida Lewis Auditorium

1025: Guests will be shift to the parade field.

1053: The graduating company will do a “fly-by” of the parade field.

1100-1200: Graduation – Location: Parade Field

Visitor Announcements

• You are a guest on an active military base. Attendance at events is a privilege. Failure to follow instruction will result in your removal. 
• Do not attempt to enter the base prior to 8:15 a.m. 
• The Uniform requirement for Coast Guard personnel will be TROPS for outdoor season as defined above, and Service Dress Blue for indoor season as defined above. Service equivalent is expected for other branches of service.
• Speed limits will be enforced. The speed limit through housing on Pennsylvania and Delaware Avenues on the way to the gate is 25 mph. The speed limit on base is 20 mph.
• Seatbelt usage is required, and driver cell phone use is prohibited.
• As you approach the gate, ensure everyone has their ID out and ready to present to the guards. With many visitors and tight timelines, we will be forced to turn you around and have you get back in line if you are not ready.
• Do not stop, get out, and take pictures while in line at the gate. This will slow down admittance and cause delays.
• Park in the designated graduation parking areas and follow security personnel's directions to make sure you arrive safely and on time. You will be walking to most locations, so plan accordingly.
• Firearm possession and illicit controlled substances including marijuana are not authorized on base. Security Forces personnel conduct vehicle searches upon entry.
• For the safety of all visitors, leave bags, purses, suitcases, etc., of any type in your car and do not take them to the ceremony.
• Only smoke in designated smoking areas at the Ida Lewis Auditorium or the Exchange.
• Pets are not permitted on base.
• Photography of your graduate on base in encouraged. However, photography of recruits in more junior weeks of training is prohibited.
• Be courteous. Do not disrupt the graduation ceremony and please silence cell phones while on base.