For those of you who don't know, I am a former member of the US Navy. I spent the majority of the time in training, and I look back on the whole experience with a certain sense of fondness. In this article, I intend to discuss Navy Boot Camp chronologically, more or less. Mostly facts, minimal commentary. Why do I want to talk about this? Because very few people get to see it firsthand, I believe that it has elements worth talking about, and I may be able to address some misconceptions about it. I suppose that many people have thought about it at least once before, so I wanted to offer my two cents.
Before Boot Camp
In order to discuss the Boot Camp process, you have to wind the clock back several months prior to the actual training. Naturally, the very first thing that any recruit will do is visit their local recruiting office. At this early point, military recruiters have no idea whether or not an individual has what it takes to even be a candidate for boot camp. Some people may have troublesome fitness issues (like a history of injuries or catching viruses), while others have either legal issues (way too many speeding tickets or a penchant for drinking too much).
![Posted Image]()
Recruiters will give the potential recruit a short, preliminary test in some general fields. Knowledge of the military isn't tested, as this preliminary test is more akin to a school's standardized tests- math, geometry, reading comprehension and so forth. Performance on this test will give the recruiter a general idea of whether or not you should pursue a career in the military. If the recruiter is satisfied with the results, they will ask you to return to the office for further action. More than likely, a potential recruit will meet with their recruiter multiple times to discuss aspects of their life; education, medical history, interactions with law enforcement, jobs they've had, and a lot more. As you might have guessed, there is tons of paperwork and no shortage of probing interviews, especially if there is cause for concern in a potential recruit's history.
Making it Official
Eventually, the recruiter will have the recruit visit what is known as a Military Entrance Processing Station, of which there are dozens scattered across the country (mine being in Dallas, Texas). At MEPS, a recruit will be given a larger, official version of the preliminary test that they took earlier. This test (the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB) is very important, as it determines whether or not a given person is qualified for certain ratings (jobs) in the Navy. Passing the ASVAB is fairly easy, but if there is a large volume of potential recruits, the military may turn you away if your score is simply average. Furthermore, you will be given an physical exam, which will take place either very close to your ASVAB test, or you will be asked to return to MEPS on a separate day. The physical exam is a lengthy series of procedures that test virtually every part of a potential recruit's body: eyesight, psychological health, flexibility, coordination, hearing, general fitness, and so forth. They'll also give you a drug test, for obvious reasons.
If your physical tests and ASVAB scores are satisfactory, you may be asked to sit down with a classifier, where you will be offered a job. Depending on your ASVAB scores, you may be offered multiple job options, or they might ask you to take a very academically rigorous job. At all times up to this point, you are under no obligation to actually join the military, which only happens when you sign on the dotted line. The only remaining order of business is to take the Oath of Enlistment with other recruits, which is effectively the point of no return. Around this time, you should know when the military will send you off for training, and your time until then will involve more meetings with your recruiter. A recruit will be expected to keep in touch with their recruiter(s) regularly, stay physically fit, and most importantly, stay out of trouble.
Eventually, the time will come for you to actually leave for training. The day prior, you will visit your recruiter, who will arrange for you to be a taken to a hotel to stay the night. The next morning, you will return to MEPS for more paperwork, and you'll be sent on your way to the airport so that you can fly out to Chicago for your training.
When you arrive at the airport (for me, it was sometime late in the evening, but I suppose it can be earlier if you live closer to Chicago), you'll rendezvous with Navy personnel who will brief you on the procedure for the rest of the pre-boot camp process- how to address authority, where to go, and how to keep track of your paperwork and personal belongings. This is the point where the gloves come off. Recruiters were not supposed to baby you, per say, but they did have a certain tolerance for honest mistakes. At this point, you really have to straighten up and follow directions to the letter. From the airport, you will board a bus which will take you straight to Boot Camp. During the bus ride, you'll be briefed on what to expect. The Petty Officers (similar to a Sergeant) may answer some questions, but for the most part, the ride is uneventful.
The Experience Begins
For a recruit, their destination is Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, more commonly known as RTC. The facility is actually part of a larger base, Naval Station Great Lakes. For some recruits, they will remain in this general location for their job training (“A-School”) after graduating from RTC. The first few hours of RTC is a blur of activity and yelling. You'll be given a final chance to call home to let them know that you've arrived, along with another drug test, a fitting for running shoes, and yet more paperwork.
Not long after, you'll surrender your civilian clothes, along with your phone, and your other personal belongings. However, it's important to note that you do get to hold onto things like your wallet, money, driver's license, and any religious items of reasonable size. Everything you don't hold on to will be sent home, and doesn't necessarily have to be thrown out. At the same time, you'll be given your first gear: clothes, toiletries, and so forth. You'll be given a lot more as the training goes on.
![Posted Image]()
Now, one of the most critical points of boot camp is one that is seldom mentioned in the recruiting process. You and your fellow recruits will sit down in front of Recruit Division Commanders (or RDCs, which are sort of like Drill Sergeants), where they will ask if the recruits have a given skill, talent, or are physically fit to a certain standard. Individuals who claim to possess certain skills (like singing or playing an instrument) may be placed in a special division known as a 900 Division, which are held to slightly different standards than other divisions. Generally speaking, this is the time for RDCs to determine who the more talented or physically fit recruits are.
A given division will start with roughly 90 recruits, and they will be under the direct command of 3 RDCs. Divisions may be 100% male recruits, about 50/50 male and female, but if that's the case, then they will not all share the same living quarters. I should point out that there have been 100% female divisions, but these are very uncommon.
The process continues with more orientation and paperwork, but one of the most jarring events is the “Moment of Truth”. In this, recruits will sit down in front of more RDCs who will demand that any recruit with potential problems (like untold drug use or undisclosed medical problems) step forward. Ostensibly, this is the last chance to reveal anything that may present a problem during training. Depending on the issue, they may delay your training, or simply send you home. If a recruit intentionally does not divulge certain info and it is later discovered that they did, the punishment can be quite severe. Keep in mind that most recruits are exhausted by this point and are running on whatever sleep they had at the hotel earlier. If your rating (job) requires a special orientation session, you'll also experience that away from most of your division.
Processing Days
Eventually, you reach your first barracks (or more accurately, “Compartment”) with your division, and the experience begins proper. The first few days of Boot Camp are known as “P-Days” (Processing Days), because of the massive amount of paperwork, examinations and teaching that occurs. By this point, you'll have a basic familiarity with military standards, which focus heavily on preciseness. To be clear, RDCs are forbidden from having recruits engage in corrective physical training if they mess up during P-Days. Until a recruit is cleared by the medical staff, punishment is mostly limited to verbal scolding, for liability purposes.
http://i57.tinypic.com/iwrarr.jpg
During this time in the first Compartment, a division will be separated from most of the RTC facilities, and your time spent in your opening Barracks will not generally involve Fleet Quality Assurance, who are basically the inspectors. P-Days will also include another issuance of uniforms. This time, you'll be given several of your formal uniforms, which you'll continue to wear throughout your Navy career.
Also during this time, recruits may either volunteer for (or be assigned to) certain positions within the division. In theory, every recruit should have at least one specific obligation, but some recruits have no unique duty, and are instead grouped up to do a bigger task. If a recruit proves to be unsatisfactory at this early time, the RDCs may assign the role to someone else, especially if the position is of special importance. Some examples include the Yeoman (who more or less handles paperwork), the Master-at-Arms (oversees cleanliness, which is extremely important), the Port and Starboard Watches (in charge of watch standing and their respective logbooks) and the Recruit Chief Petty Officer (the highest ranking recruit, who leads the recruits in the absence of an RDC).
Furthermore, recruits will be given another medical screening, which involves lots of shots, as well as dental and vision examinations.This won't be the last time that recruits are medically reviewed, even if their health is impeccable. P-Days effectively ends when the recruits are declared “Fit for Full Duty”, and their progress is satisfactory enough to move the division to their permanent compartment.
Training Kicks Off
Basic Training consists of 8 weeks of various tests and training. The first couple of weeks of training consists of things like swim qualifications and yet more orientation. A large amount of this time is spent simply doing the same tasks over and over, but everything has a purpose. Knowing how to keep your gear clean and folded properly is one such example. Attention to detail is emphasized heavily all throughout training, and there is precious little room for error. Along the way, the division visits classrooms, where they become familiarized with basic Navy knowledge- ranks, insignia, terms, sexual harassment prevention, shipboard navigation and so forth.
![Posted Image]()
A given day is scheduled very thoroughly- recruits will wake up prior to the arrival of their RDCs, the compartment must be clean, and everyone must be dressed properly before the day can begin. The average day will consist of an early breakfast, a late morning lunch, and an early evening supper, with drill practice (marching) and lots of classroom time interspersed in between. The RDCs will depart around 10:00 PM (2200), and the recruits will sleep for the night and repeat the basic process the next day.
Naturally, a division will have something special planned for the day, whether it be medical visits, the aforementioned swimming tests, or what have you. Despite the relatively mundane nature of the first few weeks, this is where the culture shock sets in. Recruits have no real access to the outside world, and mail is not available for several weeks. As time goes on, this shock will wear off, and recruits will adapt to the training, to some degree.
During the third and fourth weeks, recruits will have the first of three Physical Fitness Assessments. (By this point, recruits will have been thoroughly worked out by their RDCs, since mistakes are unavoidable.) This indoor test will gauge whether or not you meet a certain standard based on your age and whether or not you're male or female. These tests consist of sit ups, push ups, and a 1.5 mile run, and sadly, not everyone passes. I'm not 100% sure of what happens to recruits who fail, but I believe that they are either sent home, or are rolled back into a division that is at a previous stage of training.
Recruits are also given extensive safety training with firearms, namely the Beretta M9. Recruits will be initially tested on a simulated firing range, and then on an actual indoor firing range the next day. As an aside, if your shooting scores are sufficient, you may earn a Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon, but this is of little importance. Recruits are also briefly familiarized a 12-gauge shotgun, but this is not extensively focused on. Sailors may attempts to qualify for Rifle marksmanship outside of RTC, but rifles are not addressed during Navy Boot Camp at all. Certain ratings will have a heavy emphasis on security, and will require much more weapons training than most other jobs.
On Sunday mornings, the Chapel is opened to any and all recruits, regardless of religious or spiritual background. This is one of the very few areas in which RDCs cannot necessarily scold you, but you will still be expected to be respectful of others. Many major religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.) have at least one service, and there is also space and consideration given to people who would simply like to quietly reflect. Of course, a recruit can freely attend any service regardless of their background, such as a Buddhist attending a Jewish service or an Atheist attending a Christian service.
Inspections
During Basic Training, personnel and compartment inspections are very common. Inspections are done periodically and are conducted by the the previously mentioned Fleet Quality Assurance (FQA) personnel. These tests are extremely detailed and leave very little room for error. Your unworn gear must be stored away to exact specifications, the compartment must be pristine, and you must be able to wear your uniform to strict regulations, (and trust me, this is far more difficult than it sounds.) On the spot, recruits will be expected to recount certain facts about the Navy rank system or things like the Sailor's Creed. Recruits will pass or fail on their own (which is to say, the division won't necessarily be held back because of a few recruits), but failure will be met with punishment from the RDCs, sometimes for the entire division. That may sound a bit unfair, but the division thrives or flops based on teamwork, and every person is expected to hold other recruits to very high standards.
![Posted Image]()
Standing Watch
Watch standing is also a key part of basic training, and most recruits must do so at least once. Within the Navy as a whole, watch standers will guard or monitor certain ship systems or facilities, and they may be armed. In boot camp, anyone who stands watch is given a dummy handgun and must “guard” the compartment at any time of day or night. Sometimes, this means that the division will be at lunch or something to that effect while the watch stander stays behind and eats later on. During the night and early morning, there are actually two watch standers; one who patrols and maintains the logbook, and another who remains at the entrance of the compartment while the other is roving.
The basic duty of a watch stander is to “greet” anyone who attempts to enter the compartment, and to keep track of certain events in their logbook. Because logbooks can be used in court as legal documents, it is extremely important to keep them legible and accurate, both in basic training and in the fleet. Periodically, they must also patrol the compartment to ensure that conditions are normal (no loose gear, no fires, no recruits hanging out in places where they don't belong, etc.), and any watch stander who is caught not paying attention or goofing off (namely after lights-out, when the division's RDCs are gone, and roaming officers patrol the building's various compartments) will be held accountable for it. Establishing solid watch-standing habits is important, because in some cases, they may be asked to guard the ship while its in a not-so-friendly area.
Approaching the Finish Line
Weeks five and six of training pertain to drill assessments (which is even more important for a 900 Division). Drill is basically a series of marching routines, and movements have to be crisp and precisely synchronized, lest the division start tripping over itself. On its own, marching isn't difficult, but staying in line with 80-some-odd other recruits requires a lot of practice. When its done right, it's actually very awesome to watch and participate in. When its done poorly, its very embarrassing.
If a Division successfully passes their Drill test, they'll be given the right to march from location to location within RTC, without the immediate oversight of their RDCs. If they fail, then the RDCs are unhappy, to say the least. This time period also consists of firefighting training, which might be one of the more exciting parts of the training. Naturally, the training is done in a facility with controlled fires, but real gear is used. As with everything in RTC, this is a team effort, and recruits must take turns at the lead of the firefighting line. Of course, since not all fires are the same (liquid, electrical, etc.), recruits also have to understand how to respond to each of them, especially with respect to fires on board ships.
Around this time, recruits must also experience the “Confidence Chamber”, arguably the single most intimidating event in basic training. Many people dread this event, but it really isn't that bad. Recruits enter a closed room with protective masks on, and must remove them after tear gas is released. The event doesn't last long, but the gas will hit your lungs, eyes, and sinuses, and it will wear off in 15 minutes or so. The entire process is meant to teach recruits to trust their gear and how to use it correctly, more than anything else. If you had any doubts about the integrity of your gas mask before, you won't afterwards.
The Final Test
The final week consists of two main events: Battlestations and graduation. I can't really get into the specifics of what Battlestations actually is, but I can say that it is a long test of everything that recruits have been taught throughout RTC. It's challenging, but by no means impossible (my division had a 100% pass rate, which isn't unusual), and in many ways, its actually kind of fun. During the event you will probably have bonded with your smaller team (7 other people, or so). The event lasts about 10 hours overnight, if I remember correctly. Sleeping or nodding off is strictly forbidden, as you might expect.
Once the event is over, recruits are given their Navy ball caps in an emotional ceremony, which symbolizes their status as a full-fledged Sailor. The RDCs will personally congratulate everyone who passed, which is a significant moment, to say the least. For the first time, the RDCs are speaking to you more as an equal, rather than an undisciplined, unproven candidate. Later that evening, recruits are treated to a big dinner, with lots of food, and the ability to openly converse at the table for the first time. The rest of RTC is mostly paperwork, dress rehearsal for Graduation, and briefing for leaving boot camp and going to your A-School. The atmosphere of military conduct remains, but a certain amount of tension is gone.
Graduation is far and away the most downright awesome part of boot camp, as you and your division can proudly march before a large audience of friends and family members, so that you can be formally introduced as US Sailors. Individual Sailors who greatly exceeded expectations are awarded, and high-ranking officers elaborate on the significance of the event and the importance of fostering new, disciplined generations of Sailors. After graduating, the Sailors are reunited with their loved ones and are allowed to leave the base for the first time in months. Typically, Sailors and their families will go out into town to dine and discuss life, which is obviously emotional. Before a certain time in the evening (8 PM, if I recall correctly), Sailors must return to their Compartments one last time so that they can pack their gear and set off in the morning for A-School. Depending on what their job is, they will either stay in Chicago, or be sent off to another base somewhere across the country.
![Posted Image]()
That about covers it for my general overview Basic Training. In my next article, I'll offer my personal take on the whole experience. Thanks for reading.
Before Boot Camp
In order to discuss the Boot Camp process, you have to wind the clock back several months prior to the actual training. Naturally, the very first thing that any recruit will do is visit their local recruiting office. At this early point, military recruiters have no idea whether or not an individual has what it takes to even be a candidate for boot camp. Some people may have troublesome fitness issues (like a history of injuries or catching viruses), while others have either legal issues (way too many speeding tickets or a penchant for drinking too much).
Recruiters will give the potential recruit a short, preliminary test in some general fields. Knowledge of the military isn't tested, as this preliminary test is more akin to a school's standardized tests- math, geometry, reading comprehension and so forth. Performance on this test will give the recruiter a general idea of whether or not you should pursue a career in the military. If the recruiter is satisfied with the results, they will ask you to return to the office for further action. More than likely, a potential recruit will meet with their recruiter multiple times to discuss aspects of their life; education, medical history, interactions with law enforcement, jobs they've had, and a lot more. As you might have guessed, there is tons of paperwork and no shortage of probing interviews, especially if there is cause for concern in a potential recruit's history.
Making it Official
Eventually, the recruiter will have the recruit visit what is known as a Military Entrance Processing Station, of which there are dozens scattered across the country (mine being in Dallas, Texas). At MEPS, a recruit will be given a larger, official version of the preliminary test that they took earlier. This test (the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB) is very important, as it determines whether or not a given person is qualified for certain ratings (jobs) in the Navy. Passing the ASVAB is fairly easy, but if there is a large volume of potential recruits, the military may turn you away if your score is simply average. Furthermore, you will be given an physical exam, which will take place either very close to your ASVAB test, or you will be asked to return to MEPS on a separate day. The physical exam is a lengthy series of procedures that test virtually every part of a potential recruit's body: eyesight, psychological health, flexibility, coordination, hearing, general fitness, and so forth. They'll also give you a drug test, for obvious reasons.
If your physical tests and ASVAB scores are satisfactory, you may be asked to sit down with a classifier, where you will be offered a job. Depending on your ASVAB scores, you may be offered multiple job options, or they might ask you to take a very academically rigorous job. At all times up to this point, you are under no obligation to actually join the military, which only happens when you sign on the dotted line. The only remaining order of business is to take the Oath of Enlistment with other recruits, which is effectively the point of no return. Around this time, you should know when the military will send you off for training, and your time until then will involve more meetings with your recruiter. A recruit will be expected to keep in touch with their recruiter(s) regularly, stay physically fit, and most importantly, stay out of trouble.
Eventually, the time will come for you to actually leave for training. The day prior, you will visit your recruiter, who will arrange for you to be a taken to a hotel to stay the night. The next morning, you will return to MEPS for more paperwork, and you'll be sent on your way to the airport so that you can fly out to Chicago for your training.
When you arrive at the airport (for me, it was sometime late in the evening, but I suppose it can be earlier if you live closer to Chicago), you'll rendezvous with Navy personnel who will brief you on the procedure for the rest of the pre-boot camp process- how to address authority, where to go, and how to keep track of your paperwork and personal belongings. This is the point where the gloves come off. Recruiters were not supposed to baby you, per say, but they did have a certain tolerance for honest mistakes. At this point, you really have to straighten up and follow directions to the letter. From the airport, you will board a bus which will take you straight to Boot Camp. During the bus ride, you'll be briefed on what to expect. The Petty Officers (similar to a Sergeant) may answer some questions, but for the most part, the ride is uneventful.
The Experience Begins
For a recruit, their destination is Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, more commonly known as RTC. The facility is actually part of a larger base, Naval Station Great Lakes. For some recruits, they will remain in this general location for their job training (“A-School”) after graduating from RTC. The first few hours of RTC is a blur of activity and yelling. You'll be given a final chance to call home to let them know that you've arrived, along with another drug test, a fitting for running shoes, and yet more paperwork.
Not long after, you'll surrender your civilian clothes, along with your phone, and your other personal belongings. However, it's important to note that you do get to hold onto things like your wallet, money, driver's license, and any religious items of reasonable size. Everything you don't hold on to will be sent home, and doesn't necessarily have to be thrown out. At the same time, you'll be given your first gear: clothes, toiletries, and so forth. You'll be given a lot more as the training goes on.
Now, one of the most critical points of boot camp is one that is seldom mentioned in the recruiting process. You and your fellow recruits will sit down in front of Recruit Division Commanders (or RDCs, which are sort of like Drill Sergeants), where they will ask if the recruits have a given skill, talent, or are physically fit to a certain standard. Individuals who claim to possess certain skills (like singing or playing an instrument) may be placed in a special division known as a 900 Division, which are held to slightly different standards than other divisions. Generally speaking, this is the time for RDCs to determine who the more talented or physically fit recruits are.
A given division will start with roughly 90 recruits, and they will be under the direct command of 3 RDCs. Divisions may be 100% male recruits, about 50/50 male and female, but if that's the case, then they will not all share the same living quarters. I should point out that there have been 100% female divisions, but these are very uncommon.
The process continues with more orientation and paperwork, but one of the most jarring events is the “Moment of Truth”. In this, recruits will sit down in front of more RDCs who will demand that any recruit with potential problems (like untold drug use or undisclosed medical problems) step forward. Ostensibly, this is the last chance to reveal anything that may present a problem during training. Depending on the issue, they may delay your training, or simply send you home. If a recruit intentionally does not divulge certain info and it is later discovered that they did, the punishment can be quite severe. Keep in mind that most recruits are exhausted by this point and are running on whatever sleep they had at the hotel earlier. If your rating (job) requires a special orientation session, you'll also experience that away from most of your division.
Processing Days
Eventually, you reach your first barracks (or more accurately, “Compartment”) with your division, and the experience begins proper. The first few days of Boot Camp are known as “P-Days” (Processing Days), because of the massive amount of paperwork, examinations and teaching that occurs. By this point, you'll have a basic familiarity with military standards, which focus heavily on preciseness. To be clear, RDCs are forbidden from having recruits engage in corrective physical training if they mess up during P-Days. Until a recruit is cleared by the medical staff, punishment is mostly limited to verbal scolding, for liability purposes.
http://i57.tinypic.com/iwrarr.jpg
During this time in the first Compartment, a division will be separated from most of the RTC facilities, and your time spent in your opening Barracks will not generally involve Fleet Quality Assurance, who are basically the inspectors. P-Days will also include another issuance of uniforms. This time, you'll be given several of your formal uniforms, which you'll continue to wear throughout your Navy career.
Also during this time, recruits may either volunteer for (or be assigned to) certain positions within the division. In theory, every recruit should have at least one specific obligation, but some recruits have no unique duty, and are instead grouped up to do a bigger task. If a recruit proves to be unsatisfactory at this early time, the RDCs may assign the role to someone else, especially if the position is of special importance. Some examples include the Yeoman (who more or less handles paperwork), the Master-at-Arms (oversees cleanliness, which is extremely important), the Port and Starboard Watches (in charge of watch standing and their respective logbooks) and the Recruit Chief Petty Officer (the highest ranking recruit, who leads the recruits in the absence of an RDC).
Furthermore, recruits will be given another medical screening, which involves lots of shots, as well as dental and vision examinations.This won't be the last time that recruits are medically reviewed, even if their health is impeccable. P-Days effectively ends when the recruits are declared “Fit for Full Duty”, and their progress is satisfactory enough to move the division to their permanent compartment.
Training Kicks Off
Basic Training consists of 8 weeks of various tests and training. The first couple of weeks of training consists of things like swim qualifications and yet more orientation. A large amount of this time is spent simply doing the same tasks over and over, but everything has a purpose. Knowing how to keep your gear clean and folded properly is one such example. Attention to detail is emphasized heavily all throughout training, and there is precious little room for error. Along the way, the division visits classrooms, where they become familiarized with basic Navy knowledge- ranks, insignia, terms, sexual harassment prevention, shipboard navigation and so forth.
A given day is scheduled very thoroughly- recruits will wake up prior to the arrival of their RDCs, the compartment must be clean, and everyone must be dressed properly before the day can begin. The average day will consist of an early breakfast, a late morning lunch, and an early evening supper, with drill practice (marching) and lots of classroom time interspersed in between. The RDCs will depart around 10:00 PM (2200), and the recruits will sleep for the night and repeat the basic process the next day.
Naturally, a division will have something special planned for the day, whether it be medical visits, the aforementioned swimming tests, or what have you. Despite the relatively mundane nature of the first few weeks, this is where the culture shock sets in. Recruits have no real access to the outside world, and mail is not available for several weeks. As time goes on, this shock will wear off, and recruits will adapt to the training, to some degree.
During the third and fourth weeks, recruits will have the first of three Physical Fitness Assessments. (By this point, recruits will have been thoroughly worked out by their RDCs, since mistakes are unavoidable.) This indoor test will gauge whether or not you meet a certain standard based on your age and whether or not you're male or female. These tests consist of sit ups, push ups, and a 1.5 mile run, and sadly, not everyone passes. I'm not 100% sure of what happens to recruits who fail, but I believe that they are either sent home, or are rolled back into a division that is at a previous stage of training.
Recruits are also given extensive safety training with firearms, namely the Beretta M9. Recruits will be initially tested on a simulated firing range, and then on an actual indoor firing range the next day. As an aside, if your shooting scores are sufficient, you may earn a Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon, but this is of little importance. Recruits are also briefly familiarized a 12-gauge shotgun, but this is not extensively focused on. Sailors may attempts to qualify for Rifle marksmanship outside of RTC, but rifles are not addressed during Navy Boot Camp at all. Certain ratings will have a heavy emphasis on security, and will require much more weapons training than most other jobs.
On Sunday mornings, the Chapel is opened to any and all recruits, regardless of religious or spiritual background. This is one of the very few areas in which RDCs cannot necessarily scold you, but you will still be expected to be respectful of others. Many major religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, etc.) have at least one service, and there is also space and consideration given to people who would simply like to quietly reflect. Of course, a recruit can freely attend any service regardless of their background, such as a Buddhist attending a Jewish service or an Atheist attending a Christian service.
Inspections
During Basic Training, personnel and compartment inspections are very common. Inspections are done periodically and are conducted by the the previously mentioned Fleet Quality Assurance (FQA) personnel. These tests are extremely detailed and leave very little room for error. Your unworn gear must be stored away to exact specifications, the compartment must be pristine, and you must be able to wear your uniform to strict regulations, (and trust me, this is far more difficult than it sounds.) On the spot, recruits will be expected to recount certain facts about the Navy rank system or things like the Sailor's Creed. Recruits will pass or fail on their own (which is to say, the division won't necessarily be held back because of a few recruits), but failure will be met with punishment from the RDCs, sometimes for the entire division. That may sound a bit unfair, but the division thrives or flops based on teamwork, and every person is expected to hold other recruits to very high standards.
Standing Watch
Watch standing is also a key part of basic training, and most recruits must do so at least once. Within the Navy as a whole, watch standers will guard or monitor certain ship systems or facilities, and they may be armed. In boot camp, anyone who stands watch is given a dummy handgun and must “guard” the compartment at any time of day or night. Sometimes, this means that the division will be at lunch or something to that effect while the watch stander stays behind and eats later on. During the night and early morning, there are actually two watch standers; one who patrols and maintains the logbook, and another who remains at the entrance of the compartment while the other is roving.
The basic duty of a watch stander is to “greet” anyone who attempts to enter the compartment, and to keep track of certain events in their logbook. Because logbooks can be used in court as legal documents, it is extremely important to keep them legible and accurate, both in basic training and in the fleet. Periodically, they must also patrol the compartment to ensure that conditions are normal (no loose gear, no fires, no recruits hanging out in places where they don't belong, etc.), and any watch stander who is caught not paying attention or goofing off (namely after lights-out, when the division's RDCs are gone, and roaming officers patrol the building's various compartments) will be held accountable for it. Establishing solid watch-standing habits is important, because in some cases, they may be asked to guard the ship while its in a not-so-friendly area.
Approaching the Finish Line
Weeks five and six of training pertain to drill assessments (which is even more important for a 900 Division). Drill is basically a series of marching routines, and movements have to be crisp and precisely synchronized, lest the division start tripping over itself. On its own, marching isn't difficult, but staying in line with 80-some-odd other recruits requires a lot of practice. When its done right, it's actually very awesome to watch and participate in. When its done poorly, its very embarrassing.
If a Division successfully passes their Drill test, they'll be given the right to march from location to location within RTC, without the immediate oversight of their RDCs. If they fail, then the RDCs are unhappy, to say the least. This time period also consists of firefighting training, which might be one of the more exciting parts of the training. Naturally, the training is done in a facility with controlled fires, but real gear is used. As with everything in RTC, this is a team effort, and recruits must take turns at the lead of the firefighting line. Of course, since not all fires are the same (liquid, electrical, etc.), recruits also have to understand how to respond to each of them, especially with respect to fires on board ships.
Around this time, recruits must also experience the “Confidence Chamber”, arguably the single most intimidating event in basic training. Many people dread this event, but it really isn't that bad. Recruits enter a closed room with protective masks on, and must remove them after tear gas is released. The event doesn't last long, but the gas will hit your lungs, eyes, and sinuses, and it will wear off in 15 minutes or so. The entire process is meant to teach recruits to trust their gear and how to use it correctly, more than anything else. If you had any doubts about the integrity of your gas mask before, you won't afterwards.
The Final Test
The final week consists of two main events: Battlestations and graduation. I can't really get into the specifics of what Battlestations actually is, but I can say that it is a long test of everything that recruits have been taught throughout RTC. It's challenging, but by no means impossible (my division had a 100% pass rate, which isn't unusual), and in many ways, its actually kind of fun. During the event you will probably have bonded with your smaller team (7 other people, or so). The event lasts about 10 hours overnight, if I remember correctly. Sleeping or nodding off is strictly forbidden, as you might expect.
Once the event is over, recruits are given their Navy ball caps in an emotional ceremony, which symbolizes their status as a full-fledged Sailor. The RDCs will personally congratulate everyone who passed, which is a significant moment, to say the least. For the first time, the RDCs are speaking to you more as an equal, rather than an undisciplined, unproven candidate. Later that evening, recruits are treated to a big dinner, with lots of food, and the ability to openly converse at the table for the first time. The rest of RTC is mostly paperwork, dress rehearsal for Graduation, and briefing for leaving boot camp and going to your A-School. The atmosphere of military conduct remains, but a certain amount of tension is gone.
Graduation is far and away the most downright awesome part of boot camp, as you and your division can proudly march before a large audience of friends and family members, so that you can be formally introduced as US Sailors. Individual Sailors who greatly exceeded expectations are awarded, and high-ranking officers elaborate on the significance of the event and the importance of fostering new, disciplined generations of Sailors. After graduating, the Sailors are reunited with their loved ones and are allowed to leave the base for the first time in months. Typically, Sailors and their families will go out into town to dine and discuss life, which is obviously emotional. Before a certain time in the evening (8 PM, if I recall correctly), Sailors must return to their Compartments one last time so that they can pack their gear and set off in the morning for A-School. Depending on what their job is, they will either stay in Chicago, or be sent off to another base somewhere across the country.
That about covers it for my general overview Basic Training. In my next article, I'll offer my personal take on the whole experience. Thanks for reading.