HEADING TO PARRIS ISLAND

TO PICK UP YOUR NEW MARINE?



Congratulations!  Hopefully you'll find some useful information on this page to help you plan and navigate your trip in order to make the most of this awesome experience!

 

Our thanks go out to the Yuku Board


"PARRIS ISLAND FAMILY AND FRIENDS MESSAGE BOARD"


for this information.  Please check out their website for more details!


FAMILY DAY

Make sure you bring the letter that you received from your Recruit—if you did not receive one you need to know/have your recruit’s full name and Company/Platoon name.

Watch your speed!!! Watch where you park!!

Follow all instructions given to you by the MPs (Military Police and Traffic Control)

Wear comfortable clothing and comfortable shoes!!

You will do a lot of walking.

Carry Water with you—bring binoculars so you can spot your recruit quickly (they all tend to look alike out there in formation!)


MOTIVATIONAL RUN

6:45am from the main parade deck

All the graduates have a last motivational run and ring bells scattered about the base. Watch for your platoon flag. They can be seen running from their barracks toward the food court, museum and circle to everywhere there is a bell, around the Parade field and back to their barracks.


Bells are located:

1st Bn, 2nd BN, 3 BN & 4th BN Headquarters

H & S building (behind Iron Mike)


Visitors Center

After the run, sign in to register your presence and pick up a map and free literature.

Comfy furniture (no sleeping, & keep your feet off the furniture),

and ongoing videos help pass the time a little!

Bathrooms and a Coffee shop are available.

Open Thursday 6:30am-4:30 (or 5pm) and Friday from 6:30am to 3 (or 4pm).

Opens at 8am (has a bathroom) Lots of Marine exhibits &history through the years

This is a good time-filler while you wait for Liberty.

The Gift shop opens at 10 am.


Marine Corps Exchange

Opens at 8am

Visitors without military ID can purchase anything in the "Military Gifts" section of the store.To purchase anything else, you need a military ID (i.e. wait for yourMarine to go with you).The Military Gifts section includes clothing of all types,trinkets for your home, body & car. Basically, anything you can think of that has a Marine Corps emblem.


Question & Answer Session

A session with depot personnel at 9:30am in the All Weather Training Facility

(between the parking lot & visitors center)


Welcome Aboard & Recruit Liberty

Peatross Parade Deck - Bleachers 10 am sharp!

The recruits will march onto the parade deck and line up.

The bleachers are labeled by platoon, sit in your platoon section and your recruits will line up right in front of you.

Following the march on, and a few short words those recruits will have liberty ON BASE ONLY until 3 pm (Recruits cannot drink alcohol or use tobacco, and cannot leave base) 

 Relax with a picnic lunch or food is available on base (long lines!).

Tour the barracks, meet the DIs, see swimming, weapons range, etc. and shop with your new Marine!

Return your recruit EARLY (2:45 pm, No trouble before graduation, please!).

Ask your recruit what they want (mine wanted Dr Pepper and chips!)

 Having a picnic is an easy way to help your recruit relax (if that’s possible)

Other Notes:- You are permitted to bring coolers and small grills onto base for picnics. You cannot  have the cooler in the bleachers with you during either days’ ceremonies.- You can have signs for the motivational run but not any other times


Graduation Day Schedule

Graduation begins at 9am

Parking for graduation

You will be directed to park in a large lot next to the parade deck.

Your Marine's gear (lg. sea bag, ditty bag (carry-on size), body bag (hanging uniforms), and misc. bags of pictures, letters, etc.) will be lined up next to the parade deck for him/her to pick up after the ceremony. (This is subject to change based on the weather).

If your Marine doesn't want to hang around for refreshments and  you can go directly to load the car and get him or her the heck off the Island! 

We suggest that you pack lightly, as your Marine will have lots of luggage.

Pack clothes that are interchangeable (like pants you can wear both days!). 

Seating

If your Marine is an honor grad, you will have four reserved seats under the canopy.

Regular seating is in open bleachers marked with platoon numbers.

Bring sunscreen, hat and umbrella for shade.

Be seated as soon as you get there or you may be left standing.

The graduates will march in from the right. If your Marine is toward the front of the platoon sit toward the left of the bleachers, etc.

They will stand directly in front of you.

Don't use a tripod for video taping, the bleachers shake and so will your video! 

Ceremony

Graduation begins at 9am sharp. It lasts about an hour (give or take a few minutes)

They are greeted by the command, say a prayer, they retire the guideons, and present awards to the honor graduates.

  The reviewing officer is introduced then pass in review (Marines march past the reviewing stand).

March back into place, then are dismissed (a lot of celebrating and hugs on the parade deck).

Goin' Home

Most Marines will leave in the uniform he/she graduates in. (They are limited in where they can change clothes on base) They can wear this home if they chose to. You can bring clothes for them to wear, but be aware that their weight (and shape) has changed, so their clothes may not fit anymore.

If your new Marine requests clothes, keep it simple.  Shorts are fine as long as they are not PT shorts (or anything similar).

All shirts need to be tucked in. If the bottoms have belt loops, then a belt needs to be worn.

Also bring socks with shoes.

But your Marine will know all of this as they have been given a class on appropriate civilian attire.

Getting to Parris Island

By Air

The closest major airport is Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport.

Estimated drive time is about 45 minutes.

The closest minor airport is Hilton Head Regional Airport. Estimated drive time is about 55 minutes.

This is a small airport, with no major carriers flying large body aircraft.

By Car

Use Mapquest or GPS system. 

Use your home address as your beginning address. 

The Ending address for Parris Island is:

283 Blvd. de France, Parris Island, S.C. 29905

Gas Prices can be found on: www.gasbuddy.com or www.southcarolinagasprices.com


By Bus

:The Greyhound Bus Station is located about 7 miles from Parris Island on Hwy 21 (Boundary St/Trask Pkwy).

It is conviently located next to the Howard Johnsons Inn.

Other Places to Visit on Base

Island Treasures

Located in front of the exchange. Must have ID to shop there (you can shop there with your Marine).

Sells a lot of the same items as main exchange gift sections (but at a 1-3$ price increase).

Lots of unique Beaufort & Marine Corps gifts.

Uniform Store

Located across the street from the main exchange.

Has all military uniforms (new & used), military related books & uniform care items.

Must have ID to shop here.

Alexander Ships Store

Located inside the museum, this store is loaded with military gifts not found in the main exchange.

Lots of posters, bumper stickers, shirts and other trinkets.

The Alexander Ship store is dedicated to the memory of Warrant Officer Phyllis Alexander, a former Marine & decades long volunteer who died tragically on a family day in 2002. 

Base Thrift Shop

Located behind the Subway & Bowling Alley.

The thrift store is run by the SNCO Wives Club,

Proceeds benefit various volunteer projects including scholarships for local high school seniors.

Thrift store has typical thrift store items,unique craft items and uniforms!

You can usually find a wide range of sizes of dress blue blouses in EXCELLENT condition there for 50-75$ cheaper than in the uniform store.

YOU DO NOT NEED AN ID TO SHOP AT THE THRIFT STORE.

Open on Thursday & Friday from 10am to 2pm. Accepts cash only.

Triangle Mini-Mart (7 Day Store)

Triangle Mini-Mart (7 Day Store)

Gas station has a small gift section with some of the same items as the main Exchange

Places in and Around Beaufort

Carolina Stamper

Carolina Stamper is a wonderful rubber stamp & scrapbook store located in downtown Beaufort on Carteret St (look for the bubbles blowing during open hours).

Has a large selection of Marine Corps (and other services) scrapbooking & rubber stamping supplies

Walmart

Go straight out of the gate and then go about 3 miles to the stoplight. Turn left atthe light onto Robert Smalls Pkwy and then left into the parking lot.

There is also a Belks, Best Buy, TJMaxx, Tuesday Morning, Hibbett Sports, Hallmark,JC Penney, Dollar Tree, Cato/Cato Plus, Subway & Radio Shack in this shopping center.

KMart

Bare to the right at the light and go through Port Royal, past the 2 hospitals and go all the way to the last stoplight (you can't really go any farther straight). Turn right at this light onto Boundary St. Kmart is at the 2nd stoplight behind the Outback Steakhouse. There is also a Florist ( Carolina Floral Design, owned by a Marine Wife), Bi-Lo grocery store and many other small shops in this shopping center.

Big-Lots, Staples, Dollar General

Follow the same directions as if you were going to Kmart. Go past the Outback and go down through 2 stoplights. At the major intersection, turn left. The shopping center will be on your right.There is a Taco Bell out front. 

BASE LODGING

The Osprey Inn

Parris Island offers on base lodging on a first come, first serve basis. It is suggested that you make reservations at a hotel in town, then call and cancel once you check into base lodging, just in case you get bumped for actual Marines who may need the rooms!

1 Room Per Recruit PERIOD

Osprey Inn - (843)228-2744

You may call 15 days in advance of graduation day:

Mon - Fri 8AM - 4:30PM

If you are unsure of the days, call and they will calculate it for you.

You must have your son/daughters gradation date, social security number and platoon number available to give to the person on the phone.


See the Parris Island Family and Friends Website for other options


RENTALS

Harbor Island Rentals

Vacation Rentals that sleep up to 17 people!

Homes range from 3 bedrooms to 7 bedrooms!

Email: ktzerbe@yahoo.com

513-310-5984

Cindy's condos

located across the street from the Parris Island Gate,

2 condos, one ground floor,one upstairs, both have 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, fully furnished, cable TV.

Upstairs has a king bed, a queen bed, and a queen sleeper.

Downstairs has a queen bed, 2 twins, and a queen sleeper.

Linens and paper products provided.

These condos are mainly used for graduate families, and can be used for a large family.

Contact Cindy at: coosawtodd@hargray.com

Phone (843)321-2111 cell or (843)784-5463 home

Harbor Island Vacations

6 condo's that sleep 4-6 people on beautiful Harbor Island.

1-828-779-1055 Ask for Renee! 

Ooh-Rah House

A newly remodeled 4 BR, 4BA Duplex

3.5 miles from the PI Gate, will accommodate larger families

sleeps 8-10

contact Dale at: dglaeser@islc.net 843-252-9614 (cell) 843-522-9773 (home)

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS IN BEAUFORT


Beaufort Shrimp Festival    

 http://www.ovayonda.org/festival/scf_beaufort_shrimpfest.htm




















There is ramp access in the back of the building

Museum