DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY

HEADQUARTERS, 3
RD
BATTALION, 34
TH
INFANTRY REGIMENT
11950 GOLDEN ARROW ROAD
FORT JACKSON, SC 29207-6832


Dear Parents, Guardian or Spouse: 22 September 2014


Our goal is to provide the best training experience possible for all Soldiers. Their
welfare is our first priority. Their decision to serve our great nation demonstrates their
strength of character and selflessness. You must be extremely proud.

Basic Combat Training is the first step toward a very challenging, yet rewarding,
experience in the United States Army. The primary purpose of Basic Combat Training
(BCT) is to transform civilians into Soldiers. This process includes learning discipline,
self-confidence, Army standards, and teamwork. We challenge Soldiers to reach their
maximum potential to become Army Strong through military instruction, marching,
physical training, rifle marksmanship, and survival craft. Most importantly, we impart
Army Values, principles, and the spirit that makes all of us in uniform proud to serve our
country. Clearly, it is our objective to discipline, motivate, and challenge each Soldier to
the fullest extent.

We want to assure you that all of our Soldiers are well cared for in terms of their
nutrition, health, living conditions, spiritual welfare, and training. We have no higher
purpose than taking care of your Soldier and maintaining your trust in Americas Army.
The Drill Sergeants are the responsible personnel for training Soldiers. These men and
women are carefully selected, highly trained, professional Non Commissioned Officers,
who are dedicated to producing disciplined, motivated, and physically fit Soldiers. In the
weeks ahead, expect to hear stories about Drill Sergeants. We promise that the Drill
Sergeant is one person they will never forget.

Sunday morning is set aside as a time for Soldiers to attend chapel services of their
religious preference. Hundreds of Soldiers take advantage of this opportunity each
week to strengthen their spiritual needs. Our Battalion Chaplain is available to any
Soldier who needs his counseling.

The meals that we serve are balanced and designed to support the rigorous physical
demands of training. Please do not send food items by mail. Soldiers are unable
to enjoy them, as they will be stored until graduation. Additionally, the use of
tobacco products is forbidden during Basic Combat Training. Do not send tobacco
products to your Soldier. Basic Combat Training is both physically and mentally
challenging. Your loved one will probably seek your counseling for emotional support
during Basic Combat Training. Your support of them is important. Few Soldiers will say
they love it, but Basic Combat Training is not supposed to be fun. Many Soldiers will be
thinking out loud about their decision to come into the Army. Your positive
encouragement is critical to their success. We recommend that you reinforce with
them the commitment they made and the benefit of their service to themselves and our
country.

Because there are many things to learn during Basic Combat Training, Soldiers will
have little free time. There will be no visitation privileges for Soldiers until Family Day
which is the day before graduation. If there is a true emergency at home, please
contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross. They will contact our unit. Time
constraints may prevent your loved one from writing to you as often as you would like.
Our Soldiers are so busy that days pass before they realize it. Please be understanding
and continue to write as many encouraging letters as possible. Your mail is a lifeline to
family and friends back home. Due to our schedule and organization, please only
use standard U.S. postage. Using Certified or Express mail can actually add up
to three days to the delivery time of those letters.

On Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 9:00 a.m., our battalion will host the Family Day
Welcome Ceremony on Hilton Field. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony
will be held at the Solomon Activity Center (SAC). Flyers and posters will offer you
details about the scheduled events, parking, and directions. We hope you will join us in
the spirit of patriotism, express camaraderie with your Soldier and other Families from
across the nation, and witness the tremendous accomplishment achieved by your
Soldier and all the Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment.

Several exciting and informative events will occur as part of the Family Day
Ceremony. Your Soldier may be authorized an on post pass this day, allowing you to
spend the day with your Soldier while experiencing the amenities and military life on the
installation (see notes 2, 4 & 5).

On Tuesday evening, we will host a graduation banquet in your Soldiers honor, at
the Officers Club. I hope you can join your Soldier at this dinner and meet the company
cadre. Your Soldiers are required to be in a recall formation at 7:45 p.m. in their
company area. (see notes 1 & 2).

Once your Soldier has been returned to his/her company area, you are invited to join
us in the Moon Classroom of the battalion headquarters. At 8:00 p.m. we will begin an
hour long information session designed to help you and your Soldier better understand
the support systems available to them and their dependents. The briefing will feature
speakers from Red Cross, the TRICARE health system, Army Community Services, and
the unit chaplain. Our goal is ensure that you have a clearer understanding of your
Soldiers entitlements, how they will move from duty station to duty station and how they
will be able to successfully balance their careers and personal life. At the conclusion of
the session we will open the floor for a question and answer session. Our goal is to
leave no question unanswered.

The Graduation Ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, November 26, 2014 at 9:00
a.m. on Hilton Field. This ceremony marks your Soldier officially joining the long line of
distinguished men and women who since 1775 have defended our freedom. We expect
to graduate more than 1000 Soldiers from this Battalion. In case of bad weather, the
ceremony will be held at the SAC. See the attached schedule. Following graduation,
Soldiers may be granted a pass to visit the surrounding Columbia area (see notes 3, 4
& 5).

Soldiers attending Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at select locations (must be
east of the Mississippi) will be allowed to travel by privately owned vehicle driven by
family members and may depart from Hilton Field immediately after graduation.
Soldiers attending AIT at Fort Jackson will receive an off post pass, but must return NLT
7:45 pm. Family may not drive them to AIT despite the fact that it is located here on
Fort Jackson.

Everyone should take notice that with over 1000 Soldiers graduating, traffic will be a
significant issue. Ensure you make the time necessary to get through the Fort Jackson
Gates. Arriving at the gate at least 1.5 or 2 hours before both Family Day
Welcome and Graduation Ceremonies should ensure you arrive on time to Hilton
Field. Once entering the Fort Jackson Gates follow the blue lines painted on the
road to guide you directly to Hilton Field.

As stated earlier, your Soldier is scheduled to graduate on Wednesday, November
26, 2014. We request you stop sending mail to your Soldier two weeks prior to
graduation. Fort Jackson is the largest training facility in the Armed Forces and we
process countless pieces of mail daily. It will be in everyones best interest if you wait
until your Soldier reaches his or her next duty assignment before you send mail,
otherwise, your Soldier may not receive it before graduation. Even next day air or
priority mail may not reach your Soldier in time.

Upon arrival at Fort Jackson, you will need to show a valid drivers license, vehicle
registration, and proof of insurance to the security guard on duty. Everyone old enough
to have an identification card coming on to Fort Jackson must present their identification
card at the gate.

It is extremely important for you to continue confirming your Soldiers
progression through Basic Combat Training. Occasionally, a Soldiers
graduation date is delayed due to an injury, illness, or training requirement.
Your Soldier will be given the opportunity to inform you as to whether or not they have
met all graduation requirements and/or their schedule has changed before you travel to
Fort Jackson.
Our Battalion Naturalization Ceremony will be held in conjunction with our Family Day
ceremony at 9:00 a.m. on November 25, 2014. If you have a Soldier who will be
receiving their citizenship, you will be notified prior to arriving at Fort Jackson so that
you will be able to attend. The ceremony will be held at Hilton Field and will be part of
the formal ceremony. We will ensure that non-citizen Soldiers are entered into this
program, thereby ensuring the quality of life for those non-citizens who have stepped up
to serve their country at war. Non-citizen Soldiers, who successfully meet BCT
requirements and will graduate, will have their swear-in ceremony done during the
Battalion Naturalization Ceremony.

Our graduation will coincide with Thanksgiving Day. Soldiers will be given an offpost
pass for the day. Certain aspects of this day are still in refinement and we will
continuously posts updates on the unit Facebook page and message board. Tentatively
we plan to release the Soldiers following breakfast (9:00 a.m.) from their company areas.
They will not need to return until 7:45 pm and battle buddies may take the pass with them
if you have room in your vehicle. Between now and October 25
th
we will be confirming
Soldiers that will be staying on Fort Jackson and those that will be taking pass. This is so
that we can prepare appropriately for the Thanksgiving Day meal that will be served at the
unit dining facility. We believe that there will be many restaurants open throughout
Columbia, but we are currently researching how we might be able to possibly serve
visiting family members a meal in the dining facility, too.

For more information, you can visit us on http://www.facebook.com and search for 3
rd

Battalion, 34
th
Infantry Regiment, or visit http://www.jackson.army.mil/sites/bct/pages/17.
When visiting our facebook page, click the about link. There you will find travel and
lodging information near Fort Jackson, including the Fort Jackson Inn which is located
less than a mile from Hilton Field. If you have additional questions, check out the 3-34
message board at http://www.3-34messageboard.freeforms.net . There you can post
your questions or discuss topics of your choice. There is also a link to the message
board on the Facebook page under the More tab that is located just under the picture of
the Soldier shooting.

I hope to see you at our graduation events, and share your pride in the
accomplishments of our Soldiers. Our battalion motto is "Rock Force!" - and you Will
hear your Soldier sound off with this distinct motto.

We look forward to your attendance at the graduation ceremony!

Rock Force!




SCOTT E. SONSALLA
LTC, IN
Commanding

Enclosures:
3-34th Infantry General Information







3-34TH INFANTRY REGIMENT GENERAL INFORMATION

Location: Fort Jackson is located in Columbia, South Carolina, just southeast of the
Interstate 77 and Interstate 20 intersection. The best way to enter Fort Jackson is to
take exit 15 on Interstate Highway 77 and follow the signs that say Fort Jackson. Once
entering the Fort Jackson Gates follow the blue lines painted on the road to guide you
directly to Hilton Field.


Hotel Information: Lodging near Fort Jackson is limited, so make your reservations as
soon as possible. Call the Solomon Activity Center, 1-800-221-3503 for hotel referrals
or contact the Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG) on Fort Jackson at (803) 782-9802.

ATTENTION:
Inclement Weather: In the event of inclement weather, the Graduation Ceremony will
take place in the Solomon Activity Center (SAC). The guards at the gates and signs will
guide you to the proper location in the event of bad weather. The following is a
schedule for the Graduation Ceremony on November 26, 2014. We will allow your
Soldier to call you if the Graduation Ceremony is changed to the inclement weather
plan. It is imperative that they have a good phone number to contact you. Additional
information may be posted on the battalion facebook page.

Graduation on Hilton Field 26 November 2014

3
rd
Battalion 34
th
Infantry Regiment 9:00 A.M. 10:00 A.M.
Contact Phone # (803) 751-9224

Graduation Inclement Weather SAC 26 November 2014

3
rd
Battalion 34
th
Infantry Regiment 9:00 A.M. 2:00 P.M.
Contact Phone # (803) 751-9224

Note 1: The Graduation Banquet is a dinner with your Soldier at the Officers Club on
Semmes Road or the NCO Club located on Lee Road. The banquet will take place on
Tuesday evening, 25 November, 2014 and the time varies by company.

Banquet costs are:
Officers Club: Seafood Buffet - ages 12 and over - $12.95; Children 5 to 11 - $6.50; 4 and
under - free
NCO Club: All American Buffet - ages 12 and over - $8.00; Children 5 to 11 - $4.00; 4 and
under - free

A and B Co 3-34
th
Infantry Regiment 4:00 P.M. 5:00 P.M. Officers Club or NCO Club
C and D Co 3-34
th
Infantry Regiment 5:00 P.M. 6:00 P.M. Officers Club or NCO Club
E and F Co 3-34
th
Infantry Regiment 6:00 P.M. 7:00 P.M. Officers Club or NCO Club


Note 2: Family Day Passes: Following the Family Day Welcome Ceremony briefings,
Soldiers may be granted a pass to visit any on-post facility. The approval authority for
these passes is the Soldiers chain of command. Please confirm if your Soldier is
authorized a pass. These facilities include the Officers Club, the Solomon Activity
Center (SAC), the Post Exchange (PX), the Museum, and other common areas.
Soldiers will not be authorized to depart the post for any reason. The Weston Lake
Recreational Area is available due to the fact that it is part of the military reservation.
However, to reach it, you must depart post. Prior approval by the company chain of
command must be received for a Soldier to travel to Weston Lake. Travel to Weston
Lake must be direct, with no stops. All Soldiers must return to their barracks no later
than 7:45 p.m.

Note 3: Graduation Day: As a reminder, graduation is scheduled for Wednesday, 26
November, 2014 at 09:00 a.m. on Hilton Field. Following Graduation, Soldiers
accompanied by immediate Family may be granted a pass to visit the surrounding
Columbia area. Please confirm if your Soldier is authorized a pass. All Soldiers on
pass must return to the barracks no later than 7:45 p.m.

Note 4: Safety: In the interest of safety, we ask that during your time here, you do not
visit ranges, training areas, bivouac sites, training facilities or any other site posted as a
restricted area.

Note 5: Pass Policy: Soldiers on pass must NOT: Wear civilian clothes, consume
alcohol, drive a vehicle, smoke, wear head phones in uniform, or do anything to delay
their shipment to Advanced Individual Training (AIT). Violating these restrictions may
subject the Soldier to punishment under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Note 6: Soldier and Baggage Pickup: If you are transporting your Soldier home or to
Advanced Individual Training (AIT), you should allocate time between 1:00 p.m. and
5:00 p.m. on Family Day, to pick up your Soldiers personal baggage from their
assigned company. All Families that are unable to secure their Soldiers belongings
until after the graduation ceremony may pick up their Soldier and baggage at Hilton
Field.

Note 7: Useful websites:
Fort Jackson Home Page: http://www.jackson.army.mil/sites/bct/pages/17

3-34 Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/3rd-Battalion-34th-Infantry-
Regiment/110744097339?fref=ts

3-34 Message Board: http://www.3-34messageboard.freeforms.net

Army Family Team Building:
https://www.myarmyonesource.com/familyprogramsandservices/familyprograms/armyfamilyteamb
uilding/default.aspx