June 9, 2014

Dear Family Members and Friends,

Your Soldier has arrived at Fort Jackson and is assigned to one of the companies in the
2
nd
Battalion, 60
th
Infantry Regiment for Basic Combat Training (BCT). The United States
Army provides the finest basic training of any military service in the world. We at Fort Jackson
are privileged to participate in preparing volunteer men and women to be professional Soldiers.
Rest assured that all of the trainees are well cared for in terms of their health, living conditions,
spiritual welfare, nutrition and training. The trust you placed in the Army for the proper care of
your loved one is much appreciated.

Basic training is the first step toward a very challenging, yet rewarding, experience in
service to our country. The mission here at BCT is to transform civilians into physically and
mentally capable Soldiers who live by the Army values and are prepared to take their place in the
ranks of the Army. This transformation from civilian to Soldier is accomplished through a tough
and rigorous process which totally immerses a BCT Soldier in an environment established by
active and involved leadership. This environment sets high standards, provides positive role
models, and uses every training opportunity to reinforce basic Soldier skills. Most importantly,
Soldiers learn about the values, principles, and spirit that make us all proud to wear the uniform.

Below are some important things for you to be aware of as you support your Soldier
through this process:

Stay informed
Regularly visit the 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment "Scouts Out" Facebook page to
further your understanding of the Army, the training of your Soldier, and to view pictures of your
Soldiers training company.

Stay in touch
Basic Training is stressful, so I am asking you to write your Soldier to help him or her
stay motivated. Encouraging and cheerful letters from home will help overcome the
homesickness that may occur during transition. You should also be aware that the schedule and
time constraints of BCT may prevent your Soldier from writing to you as often as you would
like. Please review the Family Survival Guide on how to address mail to your Soldier.

Emergencies
If you encounter an emergency while your Soldier is at BCT, contact your local Red
Cross who will then contact the Soldiers unit here at Fort Jackson. The information is noted in
the Family Survival Guide. You are contacted directly by the chain of command in the unlikely
event there is an emergency with your Soldier.

DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
HEADQUARTERS, 2
nd
BATTALION, 60
th
INFANTRY REGIMENT
11106 JACKSON BLVD.
FORT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA 29207

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Graduation
After successful completion of all the training requirements, Soldiers will participate in
Family Day activities and a Graduation ceremony marking the culmination of BCT. This is the
beginning of the next challenge, Advanced Individual Training (AIT). The training they receive
during AIT is designed to teach them their Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) which they will
use once they reach their first duty assignment. Unfortunately, not every Soldier will
successfully make it through basic training. Your Soldier will contact you in the event they are
not going to graduate this cycle.

Graduation is an extremely important event for your Soldier and an opportunity to see
them at their finest--we hope that you will be able to attend. In order for you to plan and enjoy
your visit to Fort Jackson, we recommend you read the flyer, sent in the mail and posted on the
facebook page, with the pertinent information about Family Day and Graduation.

o On Wednesday, 13 August, 2014, at 09:00am, we will conduct Family Day activities at
Hilton Field for Bravo, Delta and Foxtrot Companies. Following a short ceremony and
information briefing, Soldiers are released for the day, for an on-post pass only, and
return to their company no later than 8:00pm. This privilege is earned and again the
Soldiers must remain on Fort Jackson.

o On Thursday, 14 August, 2014, at 09:00am, Graduation occurs at Hilton Field for Bravo,
Delta and Foxtrot Companies. Immediately following the ceremony, Soldiers are
authorized an off-post pass with their immediate family members (father, mother, legal
guardian, husband, or wife) after properly signing out through their company. Your
Soldier must sign back into the Company by 8:00pm that evening unless being
transported to AIT by immediate family members.

o On Wednesday, 20 August, 2014, at 09:00am, we will conduct Family Day activities at
Hilton Field for Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie Companies. Following a short ceremony and
information briefing, Soldiers are released for the day, for an on-post pass only, and
return to their company no later than 8:00pm. This privilege is earned and again the
Soldiers must remain on Fort Jackson.

o On Thursday, 21 August, 2014, at 09:00am, Graduation occurs at Hilton Field for Alpha,
Bravo, and Charlie Companies. Immediately following the ceremony, Soldiers are
authorized an off-post pass with their immediate family members (father, mother, legal
guardian, husband, or wife) after properly signing out through their company. Your
Soldier must sign back into the Company by 8:00pm that evening unless being
transported to AIT by immediate family members.

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o Monitor the weather and updates on facebook. In the event of severe weather, we have
the ability to move graduation indoors, at the Solomon Center. If this occurs, there will be
company graduations at designated times.

After Graduation
If your Soldier is attending AIT at one of the designated posts below, you may choose to
drive them from Fort Jackson, to their AIT location, directly from the Hilton field on graduation
day. Transporting your Soldier is strictly your choice and an opportunity for you to spend more
time together; however, you are not obligated to do so. The military provides transportation for
all Soldiers to AIT.

Most of these schools will require your Soldier to report the day after graduation. Your
Soldier will know when they must report once they receive their orders graduation week.
Soldiers must coordinate their travel arrangements and gain approval before they travel with
immediate family no later than the week before graduation. We will not know any more than
their authorized travel days and report date on their travel orders. They will not know if they
will be given any other pass privileges until they sign in at their AIT unit. Soldiers can request to
travel to the below list of AIT locations, east of the Mississippi, with their immediate family.

Fort Lee, VA Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD
Fort Belvoir, VA Fort Meade, MD
Fort Eustis, VA Pensacola, FL
Fort Gordon, GA Gulfport, MS
Fort Benning, GA Fort Bragg, NC
Fort Rucker, AL Red Stone Arsenal, AL

Your unit, our unit
We are unit with a proud and rich history. First constituted in 1917, we have fought in
World War I, World War II and Vietnam. The battalion has been decorated with five Presidential
Unit Citations, numerous other U.S. and foreign awards, and has five Congressional Medal of
Honor recipients to its credit. After being relieved from the 9
th
Infantry Division and Fort Lewis,
Washington, the battalion moved and was reorganized to conduct BCT at Fort Jackson, SC. The
battalion earned its nickname Scouts Out! in June 1944 after landing at Utah beach. Believed
to be lost, the battalion had outpaced the rest of the 9
th
Division. Now, we are proud to have your
Soldier as a part of our unit, our Army and our profession.

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Below is a list of the company leadership that is responsible for your Soldiers successful
completion of BCT and transformation from civilian volunteer to U.S. Army Soldier. They look
forward to meeting you graduation week.

Unit Commander First Sergeant
A Company Captain Hodgson Sergeant First Class Kern
B Company Captain Cockerel Sergeant First Class Hardy
C Company Captain Wright First Sergeant Davis
D Company Captain Campbell First Sergeant Jones
F Company Captain Karpinski First Sergeant Green

Sincerely,



Jeff Kirby William Tramel
Jeffrey R. Kirby William G. Tramel
Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry Command Sergeant Major, Armor
Battalion Commander Battalion Command Sergeant Major