Return to post-wide Reveille, Retreat to impact gate access

FORT RILEY, Kan. – Beginning Dec. 2, Fort Riley will begin a re-emphasis on the time-honored military traditions of Reveille and Retreat. This re-emphasis will alter procedures for accessing and leaving the post.

Reveille signals the official start of the duty day and takes place at 6:30 a.m. Retreat signals its end and takes place each day at 5 p.m. with the exception of Friday, when it takes place at 3 p.m. Each lasts two to four minutes.

The changes are part of an increased emphasis on traditional military customs and courtesies established by Maj. Gen. Paul E. Funk II, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley commanding general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Grinston, the division’s senior noncommissioned officer.

The command team published the “Big Red One” standards book last week, and the changes affect everyone on Fort Riley.

During Reveille and Retreat, a bugle will sound to alert people on the installation. At these times, security officers will place cones at the gates to restrict personnel movement on and off the post. They will also block the road to the north and south of the 1st Infantry Division headquarters building on 1st Division Road to halt vehicle traffic.

This protocol applies to everyone on the installation, military and civilian. Civilian Department of the Army employees, contractors and visitors are encouraged to participate in this tradition by standing firm and upright with their hands over their hearts and removing their headgear if applicable. During Reveille and Retreat, uniformed military personnel who are not in formation are required by regulation to face the flag and render salutes at the first note of Reveille and end their salutes on the last note.

While driving on Fort Riley during Reveille and Retreat, personnel in civilian clothing are to pull to the side of the road and remain seated in their vehicles for the duration of the bugle call. Drivers are also asked to lower the volume of loud radio broadcasts and music. Drivers may not hear the bugle call in their vehicles, but are asked to follow suit when other vehicles are pull to the side of the road or when Soldiers are rendering honors to the flag.

Reveille and Retreat are military traditions, and stopping vehicles and rendering proper customs and courtesies at those times is appropriate at every United States military installation.

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