Approximately 1,025 cadets are expected to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2024 and will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army on May 25.
However, during Graduation Week, there are several main events taking place at West Point, and the community and incoming visitors should be aware of the alternate traffic patterns and parking restrictions that will be enforced in correspondence of these events.
Please allow additional travel time when coming to West Point and driving on and around the installation during Graduation Week.
The following is a combination of events and the expectations of the community and visitors when it comes to traffic and parking during the week.
Parking and traffic information for Graduation Week – Towing will be enforced at the owner’s expense:
Any West Point personnel going on official travel outside the installation during Graduation Week must coordinate with the Directorate of Emergency Services for parking. No parking in any of the Central Area lots; vehicles parked in these areas will be towed.
All vehicles must be removed from Buffalo Soldier Field (BSF), Clinton Lot and Doubleday Lot no later than 11 p.m. on Thursday, May 23 for the Graduation Parade on Friday. Clinton Lot, the Trophy Point lots and the lots in the vicinity of Kosciuszko’s Monument will be handicap parking only (placard or plate required).
Tuesday, May 21
Events:
9 a.m. – Medal of Honor Dedication Ceremony, Col. retired Ralph Puckett Jr., Class of 1949, with his family in attendance to donate the highest military decoration that he received to the academy during an event in the Haig Room. Col. Puckett distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty, while serving as company commander with the 8th U.S. Army Ranger Company in Korea in 1950. The medal will be on permanent display at Arvin Cadet Physical Development Center starting this summer.
10 a.m. – Wreath Laying Ceremony at Thayer Statue with the oldest living graduates in attendance — Roger Conover, Class of 1948, and Bob Springer, Class of 1949 — both laying the wreath.
11 a.m. – Alumni Review and Distinguished Graduate Award –
Gen. retired Wesley K. Clark, Class of 1966
Gen. retired Jim C. McConville, Class of 1981
Lt. Gen. retired Thomas P. Bostick, Class of 1978
Lt. Gen. retired Karl W. Eikenberry, Class of 1973
Maj. retired Pat Locke, Class of 1980
Mrs. Kathleen S. Hildreth, Class of 1983.
6:30 p.m. – Gospel Choir’s Graduation Concert at Arnold Auditorium in Mahan Hall.
Traffic and parking information:
Central Post Area, from Quarters 101 intersection around Trophy Point to the West Point Club, will be temporarily blocked for the Alumni Wreath Ceremony and Alumni Review. During that window of time, the road will reopen periodically. However, unless you are participating or attending these events, we recommend you avoid this area. Thank you!
Wednesday, May 22 and Thursday, May 23
Event:
1-5 p.m., each day – Constitution Island tours with Island caretaker, Roddy McLeod, giving a historical overview and presentation at the island.
There are two tour options: one trail walk that takes about 10 minutes or another that takes 25 minutes.
Please wear appropriate shoes. No flip-flops or strollers.
It is recommended to bring your own bottled water. The tours, including the boat ride, are approximately one hour, 15 minutes in duration. There will be seven tours each day and they all depart from South Dock.
The boat has a 35-passenger capacity. There will be no reservations, it is first come, first served.
Superintendent’s Reception notes:
Due to limited parking in the Cadet/Clinton Lot area, bus transportation will be provided from A Lot (near Michie Stadium) for the Superintendent’s Reception at Quarters 100, on Wednesday, May 22 and Thursday, May 23.
For easy access, enter via Stony Lonesome Gate, park in A Lot just before Michie Stadium and take the bus to a drop off point near the residence between noon and 6 p.m.
(Wednesday, May 22) 8 p.m. – Glee Club’s Graduation Concert in the Eisenhower Hall Ballroom.
(Thursday, May 23) 7 p.m. — Superintendent’s Awards for Excellence, Achievement and Distinguished Cadet Awards in Eisenhower Hall Theatre. There is no limit to the number of guests to attend the ceremony. Cadets are allowed two guests to attend the reception/dinner (5 p.m.) prior to the awards ceremony. Cadets receive an invitation for the reception.
Friday, May 24
Events:
(NEW) 10:15 a.m. — Cadet Parachute Team demonstration on The Plain.
(NEW) 11 a.m. — Class of 2024 Graduation Parade on The Plain.
6 p.m. — Graduation Banquet at Washington Hall. **This is an invitation only event for graduating cadets and families.
Traffic and parking information:
Guests who are attending the Graduation Parade are encouraged to use Thayer Gate. They are able to enter the installation at 7 a.m. with identified parking for all non-handicap guest vehicles at the BSF Lot. Shuttles will be available to transport guests who elect not to walk to/from the Parade Field from 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
The primary parking lot for the workforce will be BSF. Parking attendants will be present to assist with workforce parking. To compensate for loss of parking in other areas, a workforce only shuttle service will operate from BSF to Grant turnaround from 6:30-8 a.m. and 3:30-5 p.m.
The regular north-south shuttle service will remain from 7 a.m.-6 p.m.
CPA parking pass restrictions remain in effect as a default framework to facilitate workforce parking.
Buffalo Soldier Field parking area should be cleared of all vehicles by 11 p.m. Thursday, May 24, to facilitate the above plan.
Clinton Parking Lot is designated for handicap parking only (placard/ticketed). Other parking on the level of The Plain, including the Trophy Point (Clinton Extended) parking lot and parking in the vicinity of Kosciuszko Monument is also handicap parking only (placard/ticketed).
Military staff and faculty, particularly those residing on post, are strongly encouraged to carpool, walk, shuttle or bicycle to work to help reduce potential parking and traffic congestion on post during the day.
All vehicles must be removed from BSF Lot, A-Lot, B-Lot, C-Lot, D-Lot, E-Lot, F-Lot, G-Lot, AAA-Lot and the Michie Stadium area no later than 11 p.m. Friday, May 24 for the Graduation Ceremony on Saturday.
Saturday, May 25
Events:
10 a.m. – USMA Class of 2024 Graduation at Michie Stadium.
Commencement speaker: President of the United States Joe Biden.
** Tickets are required. Priority is families of graduating cadets. The public may obtain tickets via the West Point Visitor’s Center. Proper ID and background check are required. To obtain the tickets at the Visitor’s Center, you may come by from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday, May 22, and Thursday, May 23.
2-6 p.m. – Commissioning/Bar Pinning ceremonies at various locations on West Point.
Hat toss information for children following the Graduation Ceremony:
Must be 4-10 years old; 42-54” tall.
Be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is 18 years or older.
The child must be accompanied from the initial screening point to the completion of the hat toss.
Once the distribution of diplomas to the graduating class begins, those wishing to participate in the hat toss may move to the passageway between the south and west stands (ramp to the field).
All participants must enter through the screening point to participate in the hat toss.
Parents or guardians and children will enter the staging area once a child meets the criteria for participation.
Parents or guardians must remain on the field in the appropriate staging area for their child to participate.
Participants will take all directives from the officers and noncommissioned officers, event staff, security personnel and cadets directing the event.
One hat per child.
Traffic and parking information:
Authorized guests with appropriate Graduation Ceremony tickets can enter the installation at 6 a.m. Guests are also required to present valid DOD IDs or Real IDs. Recommended installation gates to utilize are Stony Lonesome and Thayer Gates.
There will be road closures around Michie Stadium beginning at 6:25 a.m. due to the Class of 2024 march up to the stadium from Central Area. Stony Lonesome Road will be closed from Delafield to Washington Roads and the housing areas roads around Lusk Reservoir.
(NEW) Pedestrian foot traffic can be conducted across Lusk Reservoir dam from 5 – 8:15 a.m. by way of Mills Road to Howze Place and up to Michie Stadium. Access between Kimsey and the Foley Center is unavailable. All movement will cease after 8:15 a.m. until the ceremony is complete and the official party has departed.
Shuttles will be available for those who enter Thayer Gate to transport guests who elect not to walk to/from the stadium. Shuttles are available after the Graduation Ceremony to transport guests from the stadium to primary parking lots including Trophy Point. After the bar pinning ceremonies, shuttle buses will remain operational to transport guests to the primary parking lots.
The shuttle schedule for Graduation Day is from 6:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Routes are below.
Shuttle routes are as follows on Graduation Day:
Green Route: Pre-ceremony: From BSF to south of Foley Athletic Center for stadium entry. Post ceremony: AOG/Herbert Hall to BSF to Trophy Point.
Blue Route: K-Lot to A-Lot.
Red Route: From H-Lot to A-Lot.
Purple Handicap Route: F-Lot to Stadium circuit.
Tan Route: From North Dock to K-Lot.
Residents on West Side of post (e.g., Stony residents) can catch a Red Route bus from PX/Commissary parking lot to A-Lot and return.
Residents on North Side of post can catch a Blue Route bus from the MWR Fitness Center/Starbucks parking lot (K-Lot) and return.
Residents on South side of post can catch a Green Route bus from BSF parking lot and return.
F-Lot is designated for ticketed handicap guests parking only.
Expect major delays at all gates/Access Control Points (ACPs) in addition to road closures periodically throughout the day.
No through traffic: From Jefferson Hall at Library Corner to the Quarters 101 intersection, near Trophy Point (both ways).
No through traffic: From Howze to Stony Lonesome and Washington Road.
Traffic will be halted during guest speaker movements and when the speaker departs.
Roads in and around Michie Stadium are blocked off to vehicular traffic that does not possess a blocking pass from 4 a.m. until completion of the Graduation Ceremony.
Once the ceremony ends, traffic on Stony Lonesome Road turns one-way northbound (toward Washington Road) until 45 minutes after release from the stadium.
When entering Michie Stadium:
Guests may enter Michie Stadium through security checkpoints established at Gates 4, 5, 6, 6A and 7.
Kimsey Center is only open for ticketed guests with wheelchair requirements.
All guests entering the stadium are subject to search for the following prohibited items: Weapons of any kind (Gerbers, pocket knives, guns, etc…), coolers, backpacks, umbrellas, unwrapped packages as well as any other hazardous items identified by event or security staff.
You are encouraged to use clear plastic bags to carry your possessions into the stadium to speed up the processing through security. Clear bags will be provided at various locations prior to graduation.
All guests will be allowed to enter the stadium with one, unopened plastic bottle of water. You may be asked to break the seal at the gate. If the seal is already broken, it will not be allowed into the stadium. Mugs, thermoses, etc. are not authorized.
Safety and security are a paramount concern during graduation week activities. Everyone attending the Graduation Ceremony is asked to report any suspicious or criminal activity. Immediately report it to Military Police at the stadium or by calling 845-938-3333. Remember, if you See something, Hear something, Say something.
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