ATSF-KG-E 11 September MEMORANDUM FOR Family and Friends of Echo Battery, 1-79 FA BN Soldiers

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1 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY Echo Battery, 1st Battalion, 79th Field Artillery 6007 Rothwell St. Fort Sill, Oklahoma ATSF-KG-E 11 September 2018 MEMORANDUM FOR Family and Friends of Echo Battery, 1-79 FA BN Soldiers SUBJECT: Family Day and Graduation Day Friends and Family members of Echo Battery, the purpose of this letter is to give you the opportunity to make any plans necessary to attend these events. The Family Day presentation will take place at Destroyer Park, and the Graduation Day (see attached map) ceremony will take place at the Cache Creek Chapel Complex or C4, on 15 and 16 November respectively. The Battery command team will host an Army Orientation Night the evening of 14 November from 5:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. at the Fort Sill Conference Center. This event is not mandatory, but, it will provide the opportunity to receive all of the details for the preceding day s events and allow for any questions to be answered. Army Orientation Night: 14 November :00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Welcome Family and friends to the Army Family Fort Sill Conference Center 6045 Sheridan Rd Fort Sill, OK Family Day: 15 November :00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Family Day demonstration at Destroyer Park. 10:00 a.m. 7:30 p.m. Family Day pass privileges. 7:30 p.m. 7:35 p.m. Soldier accountability and sign-in at the Battery area. Graduation Day: 16 November :00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Class Graduation Ceremony at C4. 11:00 a.m. 7:30 p.m. Graduation Day pass privileges. 7:30 p.m. 7:35 p.m. Soldier accountability and sign-in at the Battery area.* * Field Artillery (13 series MOSs), Air Defense Artillery (14 series MOSs), and Patriot System Repairer (94S) Soldiers will be sent to their Advance Individual Training (AIT) unit (on Fort Sill) after graduation and will sign-out on pass at that unit.

2 ATSF-KG-E SUBJECT: Family Day and Graduation Day NOTE: To avoid confusion and congestion, we ask that no visitors come to the Battery area during the day prior to Family Day. Soldiers will begin shipping out to their AIT units as early as 1:00a.m. on Saturday, with final shipping complete by 11:00a.m.. Please look for and follow the signs posted near the gates to guide you to the events during both days. A blue line on the road will lead you from Key Gate to the parking lot of Destroyer Park and C4. The Family Day demonstration is a brief look at many of the fundamental skills your Soldiers have learned and applied during their nine and a half weeks of Basic Combat Training (BCT). We have put together an exciting demonstration specifically designed for Family and friends; it is both entertaining and educational. Please refer to the appropriate signs and uniformed personnel in the area to assist and point you in the right direction if you happen to get lost. Family Day Pass 15 November: All eligible Soldiers with Families attending Family day activities are encouraged to go on-pass with their Families during the designated times listed above. Please ask your Soldier if they are eligible for a pass prior to making plans. All eligible Soldiers without Family members in attendance, who would like to go onpass with their Battle Buddy s Family, may also do so. It is important that you and your Soldier communicate regarding the names and number of friends he or she plans on taking with you on-pass. The only limit on how many can go with you is the number of open seats with seat belts in your vehicle. Your consent is mandatory. By signing for your Soldier and/or his or her battle buddies, you are taking full responsibility for them while they are on-pass. Graduation Day Pass 16 November: All eligible Soldiers are authorized to go onpass after the graduation ceremony after completing the appropriate out-processing procedure at the Battery area. Please follow the guidance above and the timeline. Field Artillery Soldiers: Field Artillery (FA) Soldiers (13 - series MOS) will remain at Ft. Sill for AIT and will have to sign in to 1-78th FA Battalion before they are released onpass with their Families for the weekend. Air Defense Artillery Soldiers: Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Soldiers (14 - series MOS) will remain here at Ft. Sill for AIT will have to sign in to 2-6th ADA BN, before they are released on pass with their Families for the weekend. Soldiers who are assigned to AIT units located on Fort Sill will have their weekend pass privileges approved by their AIT unit. The AIT unit will have their own standards, policies, and procedures for newly assigned AIT Soldiers and their pass privileges. Once the Soldiers leave Echo Battery and are assigned to their AIT unit, we will no longer have the ability to grant pass privileges. Travel to AIT: IET Soldiers are not authorized leave between BCT and AIT. Please note that your Soldier is not authorized to travel with you to their next duty station. All Soldiers traveling to duty stations outside of Fort Sill for AIT will receive government funded travel to that duty station. These Soldiers will travel at a prescribed time, regardless of their report date.

3 ATSF-KG-E SUBJECT: Family Day and Graduation Day Pass Do s and Don ts: Passes are an opportunity to celebrate and relax with Family members and friends. Soldiers are required to depart and return in their Army Service Uniform (ASU) with their beret on. Soldiers are to remain in this uniform until they return. Civilian attire is not authorized while on pass. Please remind your Soldier to conduct themselves professionally at all times, they represent this unit and are an honored member of the United States Army. Please do not encourage your Soldier to travel outside of the immediate Lawton-Fort Sill area while on pass. Soldiers are allowed to accompany Family members to local establishments such as restaurants and hotels. The following establishments are prohibited: bars, clubs, adult entertainment, smoke shops, and casinos. All Initial Entry Training (IET) Soldiers, regardless of age are prohibited from using tobacco products of any kind, consume alcoholic beverages, or drive vehicles during pass privileges. DRIVING ON FORT SILL Gate Checks: All civilian and military personnel entering Fort Sill must present a valid DOD ID card or visitor s pass with valid driver s license or ID at the gate. Please take into consideration that all vehicles are subject to search by the Military Police and K9 units. These searches are for your safety and for the security of our military installation. Personally owned firearms are not allowed on Fort Sill. If you are not a US citizen, please bring legal documentation proving your identity and reason for being here. Please be cooperative with all security personnel. Cell Phone Use: Use of cellular/mobile phones while driving on Fort Sill is strictly prohibited. Passengers may use cell phones but drivers may only use cell phones with the aid of hands free or speaker phone devices. The Military Police strictly enforce this rule with a minimum fine of $75 for the safety of all personnel on this installation. Soldiers will be allowed to access their cell phones from their personal baggage prior to signing out of the Battery area and can take them along on pass. Speed: Please be aware of all posted speed limits on Fort Sill, which do not exceed 40 mph. Drivers should note that the maximum speed on the Basic Training side of Fort Sill is 15 mph and 10 mph when passing Soldiers. SOUVENIERS Souvenirs: Army souvenirs will be available at AAFES stores such as the main Post Exchange (PX), PX Mini Mall in the 434th FA Brigade training area, and the Clothing and Sales facility. Please note that all AAFES stores require a valid military ID card to make a purchase so please let your Soldier make the purchase.

4 ATSF-KG-E SUBJECT: Family Day and Graduation Day FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS When making flight reservations, please keep in mind that travel times to the airports are approximately 1.5 hours from Oklahoma City and 20 minutes from the Lawton Regional Airport. Also, take note of any additional time necessary for security checks and airline check-in procedures (approximately 1 hour at Oklahoma City / Will Rogers World Airport, and 30 minutes at the Lawton Regional Airport). Lawton-Fort Sill is a moderately-sized city in southwest Oklahoma and has a number of options for hotel accommodations and local attractions. In addition, Fort Sill is a national landmark (established in 1869) that has a rich past and is well worth your time exploring. As always, please contact us with any other questions you may have (580) Travel safe! *Please note that all Soldiers will be taking government provided transportation to their follow-on duty assignment or back home. NO SOLDIERS are authorized to travel with their friends and families following graduation. DAVID J. MARX CPT, FA Commanding Please continue for information on how to access Fort Sill.

5 Instructions to Request Unescorted Installation Visitor Access to Fort Sill As many of you may have noticed the website used to request a pass on to Fort Sill is currently not operational. Please see the below information in order to request a pass. To ensure you are able to obtain a Visitor Pass the following areas will need to be filled out on an FS Form 118a (attached below). If additional forms are needed for other Family members, make a copy. Please bring this form along with identification to the Visitor Control Center (VCC). Visitor Control Center T6701 Sheridan Road Fort Sill, OK On Family Day and Graduation Day the line at the VCC can long. We recommend getting their early to allow plenty of time to get through and make it to the ceremony on the other side of Fort Sill. The best option is to get passes the day prior to Family Day and avoid the day of hassle all together. If you have a valid DOD ID card either, Retired, Active, Reserve, or National Guard you will not need to fill the FS FORM 118a. However, if you have visitors that are coming with you they will need to fill out this form. Everyone in the vehicle 18+ years old needs this pass or his or her DOD ID. If a Family member is 16 and driving on post, they will need a pass. If they are not driving and under the age of 18, they do not need a pass. Please visit if more detailed information is required. Areas to fill out: PART 1: a. Your last name b. Your first name c. Your middle Initial d. Civilian (If military please fill out) e. Full Social Security Number f. Date of Birth g. Gender h. Driver s license number and state. NOTE: Make sure you fill in the state. If you do not have a driver s license, put your ID number. DO NOT forget to fill in the state. i. Employer or Unemployed j. Your phone number k. Your address l. Your Race PART 2: Last and first name of the Soldier you are visiting after SOLDIER'S NAME: and Echo Battery, 1-79FA BN.

6 Instructions to Request Unescorted Installation Visitor Access to Fort Sill Example: CPT Marx, David Echo Battery, 1-79FA BN PART 3: Read, Sign, and Date

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8 Echo Battery, 1st Battalion, 79th Field Artillery Regiment Army Orientation Night, Family Day, and Graduation November 2018 Peace Through Victory North - Follow the blue line to get to the Family Day and Graduation parking areas. - Follow the red line to get to the Battery parking area. **Only park in the designated areas** After pass - Drop Soldier off here for Family Day and Graduation Cache Creek Chapel Complex (Graduation Location) Echo Battery Key Gate Open 24/7 Army Orientation Night Park here for Family Day and Graduation Destroyer Park (Family Day Location)