Graduation Info for Lackland AFB - Navy MA graduation; Places to stay, see or avoid!

[Mom of Joshua, the MA]

Anyone who has been or has knowledge of San Antonio/Lackland AFB, please share your info!

[lemonelephant]

The hotels on and close to the base fill up fast due to the AF graduation, which is also on Friday. The Gateway has to keep a few rooms for military on orders until the last minute; so yes, there is a slight chance that you could get a room, but you may be better off going ahead and booking with another hotel in the area.  LaQuinta Inn is right across from the base and there are other hotels not too far away.

[lovemysailor]

i am planning on taking a vacation down to see my sailor in march. i want to stay in a hotle on base but i was told my sailor has to be there when i check in. My plane lands at noon and my sailor will be in school. could i check in without him or is there a place i can go with all my things till he gets there to help me? we were also told he wouldnt be able to come in my room since it would be just me and him(right now we just fiance but getting married when i go down there). does anyone know how accurate this info is?

[debzz3]

We down to my daughters MA graduation on January 25th. We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express downtown instead of out by the base because I knew my daughter and I would be sightseeing since we went down 2 days before the graduation and would be spending more time being touristy than at the base. Also I was put off by the reviews of most of the places that were next to the base. It was a really nice hotel, good price and free hot breakfast. We were just a couple of blocks from the Mexican market square which was really neat and several restaurants. We went the day before to the base and got our pass so we'd be ready for graduation. On the morning of graduation we arrived about an hour early and had no wait to get in and even got into the building. We got to see the class come in calling out their cadence and were even allowed to sit in the auditorium while they were talked to and practiced. Graduation was very nice, informal, the Lt. would even stop and pose with the graduate so you get a good picture. And when they were being sworn in as MA's we were allowed to go on stage and take pictures of them. We then took pictures outside. Then they marched back to their rooms and we drove over right up to where they were at and waited while they finished stripping their beds and doing whatever else needed done. Before they were released to do that the Chief marched them around the parking lot a couple of times doint their cadence so we could all watch and hear. Then we loaded her up and went back to the hotel. We then went to the Alamo, which was only like a couple of miles, if that, from the hotel and the Riverwalk and the Riverwalk mall. For supper we went to the Pico de Gallo over behind the Market Square. Nice place, but I've had just as good Mexican food at places around here in IL. All in all it was a very nice experience. The Lt. came over and shook my hand and congratulated me because my daughter was a distinguished graduate and then got onto her twin because she had been going to join also but couldn't because she has a tattoo behind her ear. He said he had never heard of someone being turned down for that but she was. He told her she should've had it removed so she could join, lol. I was all giddy and intimidated because I had never shook an officers hand. lol. And he was pretty good looking too. ha ha. Oh yeah. The trip from the hotel to the base only took about 10 mins on I90 and had an exit right to the base gate. Easy as pie. I was very happy with where we stayed and how easy it was to get to the base from there.

[lemonelephant]

You will have to get that information from him and will also need to have your gate pass. It's best to get that the night before. The graduation is usually in the morning around 9, but it has been later at times.

[lovemysailor]

my sailor got classed up yesterday which was different than what his orders had said. does this mean that he graduates in 7 weeks from friday so april 5th? i am trying to plan for pto at work and didnt want to take the wrong days off. any suggestions on how long to stay after graduation or is coming home right away ok. i want my sailor to come home with me so should i stay down there a few days and give him some time before we head home?

[lemonelephant]

He will be told when graduation is supposed to be, but yes, it should be around 04/05/2013. Your Sailor most likely will be able to leave on the day of graduation, so plan to return on the day of graduation unless you or your Sailor wants to do something in San Antonio that weekend (most Sailors are ready to leave though).  Once in a while, one or more Sailors must remain at Lackland because they don't have their orders, but that doesn't happen often. 

[LoriK (Ship 02 Div 908)]

Our son graduated from MA school on 3/1. Thank you to those that have gone before us and shared their experience in this discussion forum. It was helpful.

Since the AF boot camp graduation also occurs on Fridays, we found most of the hotels very near the base were booked. They are also "economical" hotels, that is 2 1/2 star or less. We got 2 adjoining rooms at a Marriott Fairfield Inn in the SeaWorld area through Priceline for $50 each per night, about half price. The hotel was relatively new, well appointed, very clean and included free breakfast. On Friday morning it took us about 20 minutes from the hotel to the base, with some traffic. There are several routes and although it was rush hour, traffic was tolerable.

We stopped at the Visitor Center on Luke just off W. Military Dr. at Lackland on Thursday evening to get the gate pass for Friday morning. Each person attending graduation needed to be there with their driver's license. This saved us about 15 minutes Friday morning. They gave us a map of the base as well.

On Friday morning, we went through the gate on Luke, across the street from the Visitor's Center on the other side of W. Military Dr., arriving at 7:45. No traffic at all! We parked in the parking lot in front of our son's barracks so he could load up his stuff after graduation. The barracks are within walking distance of the gate on Luke, so its a very short drive. The ceremony is held in Carter Hall in the Center for Security Forces Building. It's located a short walk from their barracks. There is parking at that building as well.

We were allowed in the ceremonial hall while the Sailors were being briefed on the ceremony. It was very relaxed. There was a short video presentation & photo slide show. We were invited to take as many photos before and during the ceremony and as each Sailor walked across the stage during the presentation of the diplomas, they paused with the Lt. to face the families for photos.

It took our son only about 30 minutes to clean out his room and get released to leave. Since they had to muster before breakfast, our son was starving by the end of graduation. We immediately went to brunch. There are lots of restaurant choices on 151 just off 410. We ate, went to our hotel to change clothes and then headed into downtown San Antonio.

We got a coupon book at the hotel and I downloaded a couple of apps for San Antonio and the Riverwalk. We walked through the Alamo and went to a few museums. We took a 40 minute river boat tour. It was very reasonably priced and enjoyable, a great way to see all that's along the Riverwalk and learn the history. They offer military and Senior discounts.

Joe's Crab Shack on the Riverwalk had been closed and was doing a "soft opening" Friday night, so they were offering free meals from a select menu. The service was great, the atmosphere fun and the food delicious and free! The four of us had a $95 dinner for a $20 tip. On a previous evening, my husband and I ate at The Original Mexican Restaurant on the Riverwalk. The food was very good and reasonably priced. We used a coupon from one of the apps for a free appetizer.

[lovemysailor]

my sailor is graduating next week and i was just wondering what everyone else wore. I was thinking jeans since everyone is saying it is very informal but didnt know becuase of pictures. I dont want my sailor to be all dressed up looking nice and me in jeans but also dont want to be the only one in a dress. Any advice??

[lemonelephant]

Your Sailor will most likely be in his dress blues, but even if he isn't, it never hurts for you to look nice.  Although it is informal, business casual is still a good idea for you to wear.  I wore a dress and low heels to my Sailor's "C" School graduation and the other women wore dresses or slacks and nice tops--there weren't any guys among the guests--the graduating Sailors were in their NWU's (digis).  The pics I have of my Sailor's "A" School grauduation show similar clothing for family members--slacks or dresses for the ladies and khakis or slacks and nice shirts for the gentlemen. (I didn't get to go to "A" School graduation, but another mom took pics for me.)

[lemonelephant]

bump

[lemonelephant]

See MA A-School Graduation Tips within http://www.navydads.com/.

[Misty(Morgan's Mom) SHIP14DIV020]

I am planning on attending my daughters A school graduation on Jan. 31. To this point she has her orders & they state that she is to report to her duty station March 3. She really has no idea beyond what her orders state. She took leave to come home for Christmas, so we know that she does not have any leave to take after graduation. Does anyone know if that means she is going to be held over in the San Antonio area until closer to March 3rd? If this is the case then I plan to go down the day prior to graduation & stay for a week after so we can visit more!

Any info would be appreciated!