Navy Boot Camp
84The path to becoming a Sailor
Boot Camp. The process of becoming a soldier, sailor, Marine or airman begins with a lot of paperwork, a lot of hurrying up to wait, and then the big step: boot camp. For those of you enlisting in the United States Navy, your journey of transformation begins in Great Lakes, Illinois at Recruit Training Command. Recruit Training Command, or RTC for short, is an enormous facility able to house up to 25,000 recruits. An expensive overhaul of the Training Command buildings (called ships) and the training program itself has changed and modernized the boot camp process, but the schedule you'll find below still, for the most part, applies.
Without sugar coating the experience you are about to go through, know that the feelings you have of excitement, nervousness, possibly even that slight bit of fear, are all perfectly normal. Boot Camp, and your military service, are going to change your life forever. You will find yourself gaining skills which will carry you through into your military career, and you will take this valuable lessons with you into the corporate and civilian world when your enlistment is up. That is, if you don't choose to re-enlist!
The First Half of Navy Boot Camp
I hope you're ready for an intense time. Your experience at Boot Camp begins as soon as you step off of the bus and are met by one of your Division Commanders. If you show up at Boot Camp having not prepared physically for the experience, you are in for a wild ride on that front. Be prepared, mentally, to be picked apart for being different. Here is a brief run-down on what you'll experience in the next eight to nine weeks:
- Week One - During week one you will go through processing. You will fill out a lot of forms regarding health, benefits, wages, direct deposit, insurance, the Montgomery G.I. Bill and much more. If you haven't yet memorized your social security number, you will want to before you leave for boot camp, you'll be writing it on everything. Once you've finished processing, then the real fun starts.
- Week Two - Week two finds you tired, irritable and wondering what the heck you got yourself into. You will get used to waking up at 0600, I promise. This week you will begin physical conditioning and participate in a confidence course. The focus for this week of training is team-building. You will learn to rely on your shipmates, and the confidence course is a big start.
- Week Three - In a hands-on environment, this week you will learn first aid techniques, signalling with flags, the proper procedure to board and disembark a ship, and basic seamanship. You will do this training on a real ship situated in a large hangar. Your first PT (physical training) test is administered during week three, the areas tested are 1.5 mile run, push-ups and sit-ups. This is often called the PT0, because it is the starting point from which you will improve.
- Week Four - Time for weapon training. You will go through safety training, then weapon training in a supervised range environment. This is the halfway point in your academic training, as well as the week during which you will take your graduation photos in preparation for your Pass and Review ceremony.
The Second Half of Boot Camp
You've reached the home stretch at this point, with four more weeks to go! Here's what you'll do during the second half of boot camp:
- Week Five - More classes, more training, and a lot more PT. By this point you've learned how to do everything the way the Navy wants you too, and though you may not feel like it -- you've changed. Rigorous training and a restricted diet, a fast paced and active training style in and out of the classroom, and a behavioral structure deeply rooted in forming a team bond between you and up to 100 total strangers have all contributed to your change, and in most cases this change is for the best.
- Week Six - Fire fighting training, and shipboard damage control classes. This week you will learn how to put fires out, how to properly don fire safety gear in case you must fight a fire onboard ship, how to open and close watertight doors, and operate fire fighting equipment. This week also finds you and your shipmates inside the gas chamber, being exposed to tear gas while you and everyone else recites name and social security number. You will also go through the confidence course again, further solidifying the concept of teamwork and comraderie.
- Week Seven - At this point, you're nearly finished with boot camp. Excitement sets in and now you're ready for the final test: Battle Stations. Battle Stations is a twelve hour event held to test your entire division on how well you've absorbed everything you've learned so far. If you are present at the call for Battle Stations, this means you have successfully passed all academic and physical challenges presented to you up to this point, and are ready for this final test. You will be pushed to the very brink here, and will find that once it is over and you stand in the finishing room, dirty, beyond weary, emotional and drained. All that fades away as the Commanding Officer in charge of RTC Great Lakes comes in to personally congratulate you, presenting you and your division with your new status as a United States Sailor -- your Navy ball cap.
- Week Eight - Graduation/Pass and Review. Aside from everything mentioned above, part of your training has been in drill and ceremony. That portion of your training will come in to play here, where you march proudly, shoulders squared and with a bolstered confidence before friends, family, and thousands of supportive individuals from all walks of life. There is nothing like it in the whole world.
What happens after boot camp?
After pass and review, your newly capped Sailor will pack his or her bags, be given orders and travel information for their next level of training - "A" School - and be on a much more mundane journey to learning their actual JOB while they serve their time. During "A" school they'll experience life as a Sailor in a whole new way...
Boot Camp books
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Honor, Courage, Commitment: Navy Boot Camp
Price: $18.13
List Price: $28.95 |
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Letters From Boot Camp: A Memoir of Navy Basic Training
Price: $6.81
List Price: $10.95 |
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Boot Camp: A Frank Look at the Navy's Recruit Training Center
Price: $6.50
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The Misadventures of Russell Quigley: Photographer's Mate, United States Navy
Price: $4.76
List Price: $5.95 |
Vintage Navy Boot Camp
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Navy Boot Camp and Schools 1960s
Price: $29.95
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Navy Boot Camp At Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Illinois, 1940s
Price: $29.95
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Navy Men Of The 1950s: Boot Camp & Training
Price: $29.95
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Women's Essentials
Women should arrive in conservative, comfortable slacks or jeans and shirt. No tank tops, halter tops or short-shorts are permitted. Women are also required to bring these items:
- 6 white bras (standard white cotton -- two should be athletic support)
- 6 panties (white cotton)
- sanitary items (as required)
- 2 white half-slips
- 2 pairs of pantyhose or stockings (skin tone)
- shampoo (in small plastic container)
- a copy of PAP smear if one was performed six months prior to ship date
- If currently using birth control pills, bring the pills and a copy of exam records specifying the type(s) of birth control pills both currently and previously prescribed.
What to Bring to Boot Camp
- marriage certificate
- spouse's and children's birth certificate(s)
- divorce decree (of both husband and wife)
- court decrees for alimony/child support
- small Bible, Holy Scripture or other religious articles (if desired)
- prescription or reading glasses or contact lens kit (no prescription sunglasses)
- prescribed medications
- civilian medical records if you have any medical condition that requires treatment
- college transcripts
- certificate of entry (for immigrant alien recruits)
- MAXIMUM of $25.00 cash
- Postage Stamps (suggestion is to bring at least two books of stamps)
A special thank you goes to about.com for compiling an actual list of things to take and not to take to boot camp. If these lists differ from what you are told - use the list/information your recruiter gave you as the primary guide.
What not to bring to boot camp
Here's a list of the things you do NOT bring to boot camp. This is not a complete list, but rather gives you a clear picture of what to leave at home:
- food, candy, chewing gum or alcoholic beverages;
- cigarettes or other tobacco products;
- sharp objects, scissors, fingernail files or manicure kits;
- lighter fluid, non-disposable lighters, matches, aerosol cans, perfumes, colognes, liquid shoe polish or any articles in glass containers;
- radios, books, tape recorders, non-prescription or prescription sunglasses, musical instruments, sports equipment or cameras;
- firearms, explosives, ammunition, knives or weapons of any kind;
- calculators or electronic games;
- lewd or obscene photographs or literature;
- cards or dice;
- non-prescription medicine, drugs or vitamins;
- low-cut or two-piece swimsuits;
- illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia;
- Jewelry (except for a small religious medal, wedding and/or engagement ring and a conventional, conservative watch). While in uniform you're not allowed to wear any other jewelry.
Note from the author:
I know this is a lot of reading, but I feel the information and insight I can give, having been through it first hand, is invaluable.
Boot camp is not easy, it's not glamorous, it's not fun. You learn more about yourself and others than you ever wanted to know before, you curse, cry at the silliest things, and for eight weeks you really wish you could have things that you had before going to boot.
Where before you really wanted your parents to shut up and leave you alone, you begin to long for any word, any letter, anything that connects you to home. Guy or girl, your heart leaps when the mail comes in. A simple I love you from someone back home means more than anything.
You change, you adapt, you learn. The whole process breaks you down inside, takes parts of you away, parts of you that held you back. You'll see the meek, shy, quiet nerd become confident as weeks pass, you'll fight and bicker like children in a school yard. By week six, you'll wonder what the hell you're going to do to stay in touch with every single person in your division. You'll exchange email addresses, phone numbers, home addresses with people you never may have spoken to two months before, because they are your family.
The military is not a choice everyone should make. I made the choice, and my Navy ballcap rests in a place of pride. You're worth it, shipmate.
-CTM3 Anderson, Charlotte, hd2001.
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Comments
Likewise, thank you for serving us. I kept a pretty good journal of my time there, and though things at RTC may have changed, I'll never forget the crisp air, the friends I made, or the feeling of putting that ball cap on for the first time.
I will admit, I got a little teary eyed thinking about it.
Nice job Gamegirl - This hub makes it clear I never want to experience boot camp! Glad there are people like you who are willing! :-)
Been there, done that- in Orlando. It's a small world. Hi, fellow shipmate! Wow, this brought back memories. I met my husband right after boot camp, in A school.
And you're right- the mail was truly priceless. It's what kept a person going. Without it, I don't know if I would have made it through.
The best thing I know to say about boot camp is that it is something I wouldn't want to go through again, but I'm glad I did it. I learned a lot about myself, especially my strengths.
I just noticed that one of the most amazing sites for Navy moms has directed traffic my way!! To all the Navy moms who read this, please know that this information comes straight from the lips of a Sailor.
CTM3 Anderson, forever and always!
Thanks for coming and joining my little world of the net too! I hope your experiences help those coming now!
So glad to have you around, Sweetmtn
Comendations to you for serving in the Navy! it takes courage to make it through boot camp, let alone the rest of it.
A friend of mine joined the Marines and one of his unit died during boot camp; glad YOU made it through!!
Been there done that.It isn't as bad as it was in the sixties.
Thank you so much for information. As of late I am been reading a lot on the navy, RTC, A school, etc. And I was wondering what it was on the inside. Sure they say it's difficult, challenging but you cannot know for sure. But you certainly hit the nail on the head and I thank you.
For the moment I am just trying to lose weight or inches of waist and hips and getting into shape before boot camp.
Again than you future shipmate!
okay wow i just graduated last november and my one year mark is alomst here. yes you will learn alot about yourself and things you have never known and didnt want to know. its a slef challenge along with getting to know and work with people. the weeks seem long in the beginning! but they soon start to go fast. dont give up~!
does anyone know when the next boot is? i wanna go asap
Depending on the city you live in, you should contact your local Navy Recruitment Office. They should be listed in the phone book, or you can google search for your city name and the term "navy recruiting station"
yeah im enlisted and i just have to finalize everything next week. i just wanna leave as soon as i can
We just said good-bye to our son yesterday, he got in Chicago late, late last night. Thank you for all the info, I will admit, as a mom, I did cry a bit but it helped seeing real pictures and thoughts of what he will be doing. thanks again
Eternity,
Please remember to write him often! He might groan about it at first, but inside he'll love it. Congratulations on being the mother of a sailor! We're all family. :)
Wow, talk about flash backs. I was the LPO for Dental InProcessing in Bldg 1523, NRDC Great Lakes from 1983 to 1985. I originally was a Dental Tech and cross rated to field corpsman. Maybe you knew me. They called me Doc! (But, they called all of us Doc, so just agree sailor!) HMC Akeejaho. Has a ring to it!
oops, make that HNC. (Why do they have to put those two letters so darn close?)
Boot camp. Ah, good times! Or not. I went through in San Diego and was an Operations Specialist. Ended up being stationed in Japan.
Akeejaho - I mean Doc.. Was the schedule something similar to this in the past? I know my memory of this comes from nearly a decade ago myself, and if things haven't changed terribly much (aside from the outing of dungaree bellbottoms) then that means to me that the Navy has a darned good system going!
tcnixon- What an exciting duty station! I can imagine you have lots of stories from there. :)
Somethings never change! (Except for dungarees. And Skivvies.)
I actually found a pair of dungarees at a Goodwill store near where my parents live now. Too bad they were three sizes too small for me! :(
Salutations, I have just found your website and am glad i can get some insight on the bootcamp. I am going to enlist and make a change in my life. I went to the revcruiting office today, and was told i need to lose some weight first. Do you have any other reccomendations i should do before i go in to boot camp?
Hello to all. I was just reading about the navy boot camp weekly schedule. My nephew is there now and I think he is on week 4. I was sitting watching his 1 b-day party and then the party we threw for him before he left last month. I can't believe that I find myself crying at times especially since I'm not his mom. I am very proud of him for making a grown up decision before he made some bad ones. We all use to tease him because he's so thin and doesn't have any muscles but I suspect when we see him at graduation next month we won't be able to tease him any more. To all of you who are in the military and who have been I salute you and I am proud of you. After 4 years in JROTC in high school, I realized that anything military was not for me although I really liked JROTC.
My son left for boot camp a week ago. When should I expect to receive an address so that we can begin to write.
You will most likely here from him in one week, possibly two depending on whether or not he's visited the store on base to pick up supplies. You're allowed to mail him envelopes and postage, and that may help him be able to write to you more often also. :) Congratulations!
Thanks for posting this information gamergirl. I am joining the navy and this article and the video toward the end was very helpful.
Deb, thank you so much for visiting, commenting, and for the service you have enlisted to fulfill. You will find that life as a Sailor is different from anything you've ever known, and I applaud you for it. If you'd like a penpal for when you're in boot camp, please contact me through the "Contact Gamergirl" link at the top of this page.
That goes for any of you recruits! I'll write you all letters, just have your families come to this page and send me a message with your address at RTC. You all have my support!
Hello fellow shipmates. I just completed boot camp about 4 months ago. And about the letters definately true. I couldn't wait for the mail to come usualy would get a letter every night from my girlfriend and usually once a week from my dad. The hardest part was having my 18th birthday in boot camp. It was kind of a hard day for me, but i saw everyone about 10 later so everything was better. Yeah utilities i hate them lol. Skivvies were really hard to get use to also haha.
I see they changed things quite abit. Maybe for the better. I went though Greatlakes in 75 and remember the thinking positoin, George the smoke house, and the girnders very well. Had to run around them with my rifle over my head. I remeber the fun of the 64 count manual and the daily tornadoes. I think I would rather be in now than then. Now it's more about being a job than an enlistment. They probably have more respect for each other than they did back then. They tore down the old barrack, sad to see but needed. Times have changed. Good luck to the present and future sailors. GO NAVY.
Thank you for providing this information. My boyfriend left yesterdy for bootcamp and it is really hard on me. I am only 20 years old and in my second year of San Diego State University. While I wait for my next class to start, I decided to catch up on some reading and information about the Navy. Your article has helped me alot. Thank you for taking the time to write such descriptive information.
I enlisted in the Navy on 03/21/2009 my ship date is shceduled to be on december 7 2009, i am a 36 year guy with a son and a wife. I made the decision because i want to bring my family a better future. I am a little bit scare but i know god will guide me through the entire process. God bless us all future shipmates. GONAVY
thanks gamegirl for all the support
Hey there Shipmate!
Do it for yourself, do it for your family, do it for your country - but know this: It will change you, and your life, keep your focus tight and know that you will come out of it a better person if you try!
GO NAVY!
hi everybody ,my husband left for RTC on 13th april 09,our son is 3yrs old .he took this decision for us and i am so proud of him its hard to stay apart but this time will pass and i cant wait to see him on his graduation .i am so thankful to all of u who write their expriences in a good way so we can feel better about it thantks alot
Guldan-
I'm so happy for you! Thank you for coming here and reading. I'm sure he'll do great, and when you see him at graduation, remember to tell him how proud you are of his incredible accomplishment. :)
hi there ,thankyou so much for your support ,i am counting days today i received his belongings i am waiting for his address so i can write him i dont know if i am going to receive an official letter for his address or he is going to send me
Guldan-
I'm in the same boat! My husband left on April 14th, and I was just told by him over the phone late that night that I would be getting his address/belongings sometime by the end of this week. I miss him, and am so proud of him for wanting to be a Sailor. And thank you GamerGirl, for all your wonderful information! It really helps me as a wife to know what he is going to go through week by week! :D
Don't worry, guldan, you'll get his address soon! If it wasn't on the package of his stuff, then he'll be sending you a letter within the next few days, most likely he'll get to write you one on Sunday when they get the morning to go to church and the like. :)
Bamiyan, you are so very welcome. Like I mentioned up there in the article, things have changed just a little, but the basic premise is the same.
All my love to both of you in this nervous and anxious time!
i am so thankful to you gamegirl you answer our question right away
thanks again for your love and support everyday i look forward to visit this site keeps me motivated when i read everyday what he will be doing right now
Bamiyan,its good to know that i am not the only one alone going through this i just pray for us that our husbands do great and this time pass quickly
Thanks gamergirl, and me too guldan.
I actually just got the package of his belongings about an hour ago. It got here fast! There wasn't a letter in it, so I guess I'll be getting that in a few days like you said :)
Hi guys! I just got his new address in the mail today. It was nice to get a little note from him at the bottom of the page too. I guess in about 4 weeks or so we will be getting information on his graduation.
Time is going by so slowly, and I miss him a lot, but I know that he's doing well, and I am very proud of him for taking this big step in his career.
Have you gotten the letter from Great Lakes yet, guldan?
I was in boot camp in Great lakes in 1983 (November to January). It was brutally cold the whole time. Some days, the snow and ice were so bad though, we didn't have to double time, or carry a rifle. The gas chamber was frozen solid on our day, and they could not light a flame in -12 degree weather for our fire fighting. So not everything is bad about winter boot camp, lol. We had to march from the old 13th division 3 times a day to the galley, plus anywhere else we had to go. Shoveled lots of snow. I remember the endless marching and drill. I remember being scared to death of the MED inspectors with those red and white ropes! They would stop you and interrogate you trying to find something wrong. I had service week in the galley. That was the low point for sure with the long days and little or no sleep in between. I'm glad they don't do that any more. My son goes to bootcamp May 18th. I have tried to prepare him the best I can, and I will show him your article gamergirl. Thanks.
hi there ,yes bamiyan i received the official letter yesterday at the he wrote a little note thank god that he is doing ok i posted him cards and letters yesterday .Its his birthday today and miss him so much ,you r right that time is going very slow our son misses him so much the way he remembers him it brings tears to my eyes ,i am just praying for his success
Hi everyone. I actually just got to talk to him a couple of times today! He's a CTT, so he needs to get Top Secret Clearance, and he needed me to fax a bunch of stuff to them up there. It was really good to hear from him, even if we couldn't really talk.
Oh and guldan, I found out he's supposed to be graduating on June 5th. How about your husband?
Hooray for hearing from him! That's fantastic news. :)
hi there ,i didnt talk to him yet but i recieved a letter from him today saying that he is doing good and he is PFC OF HIS DIVISION ,but i dont know about his graduation yet .
Hi Guldan,
What division is your husband in? Mine is in 214. As long as things don't change (not passing a test, injury, etc.) divisions 210 through 215 & 929 are all graduating on June 5th. Chances are since he was only there a day before my husband, it will probably be the 5th for him too.
That's awesome you got a letter! I still haven't recieved one. He told me real quick on the phone a few days ago that he's written but isn't able to send anything out yet. Hopefully I will get something early next week! :)
hi Bamiyan ,my husband is in division 213 .i looked up on rtc official website his is on 5th june too as long as everything goes well.hopefully you will be receiving letter very soon.
hi
my ship. date: may 5, so one week more . Im a little scared and sad, scared because my english is not perfect so i dont know what gonna happen and sad because i leave my daughter whit my parents in my country, so far away, and the reason its 'cause my husband will be in afhanistan in a month, and my family in law dont love me...so im kind of alone in this country. All ill do its for my little angel.
seaman recruit
Fernanda T.
Fernanda, I know this must be difficult for you. When you get to boot camp, you will be surprised how people will help you. When I went to boot camp, there was one recruit from Puerto Rico who spoke no English, none. We had two recruits from Texas who spoke broken Spanish and helped him along. Just try not to pick up all that Navy "slang" and profanity. It's very easy to do. The most important thing to do is to stay focused and don't be distracted. Now that you have made the committment to join, do your best. Your parents are taking care of your daughter. You will miss her, but she is safe, and you will see her again. Also, when you are out of boot camp and school, if you can't get a shore duty assignment, try to get a neutral duty assignment, on a dry dock for example. If you must go to sea, get an assignment on a ship like a sub tender where you don't go out that often. This will count toward your sea time, and you can still be with your daughter. Good luck. You will be fine.
Hello all. I just got a packet in the mail with the form I need to get my Military Dependent ID. I was wondering if anyone knew if you need to take it to any base (not just Navy), or if I can do it at a RAPIDS site? My husband is active duty, so I think I may need to go to an actual base. The closest one (an Air Force base) is about 2 hours away, so if I can do it at a RAPIDS place, I would rather (it's like 20 mins away). Thanks for your help!
hi bamiyan, i received that package too ,there is a navy number for your help on those pages and they will give you the number for the location closer to you,or you can use RAPIDS site to get the nuber of the locations closer to you,they will give you an oppointment and let you know about the things you need to take with you to their location.in my citY NY they have 5,6 locations i made my oppointment yesterday.good luck
Thanks Guldan! I will give the RAPIDS place a call tomorrow to schedule an appointment. There's only 1 in my area, you got lucky with 6! :)
Also, I got my first letter today! He couldn't write too much, but it was good to hear how he's doing, what he's up to, and how his division is. He said he's been sick the past 4 days. I think the weather transition from FL to IL was enough to catch him a cold. I can't wait to hear from him with his first phone call sometime by next week!
you r welcome , i hope your husband is doing good now ,i am waiting for the phone call too.
hi there ,i recieved a phone from my husband on monday it was pretty long he got liberty to call it was so good to hear from him ,i also received the graduation package .
Hey Guldan! That's awesome news! My husband just called yesterday, so they must get the phone call exactly 4 weeks into when they first got there. I only got a half hour to talk with him, how long did you get?
I haven't gotten the graduation package yet, I'm hoping for that soon. I was expecting his weekly letter today (since last week I got it on a Wednesday), but no luck, so I guess I will get it tomorrow. It was so awesome to hear from him too! I'm glad the time is going a little quicker now, and I am all excited that the graduation isn't too far away! I already bought plane tickets, so hopefully everything will run smoothly with the exact dates and all.
Also, I finally made an appointment with the RAPIDS place to get my military ID. The place down here is so backed up that the earliest date open was on June 9th! So I actually have to wait till after the graduation to get it. Go figure lol. Did everything go smoothly with getting yours?
hi bamiyan ,good to hear that you recieved a phone call too,i was expecting a two or max five min call so half n hour was long enough and my son was so happy and excited that he spoke to his Daddy .Today i received another letter from him its good know what he is doing and everything is ok .I am planing to go by car its a long drive but i am going with my family so its going to be good .I am just praying that everything goes well .
I didnt have any problem making the appointment its in mid May ,you are right seems like now time is moving a little fast .
HELLO EVERYONE. FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS A GREAT AND INFORMATIVE SITE. MY FIANCE LEFT ON APRIL 27TH FOR BOOTCAMP. I NEVER FELT SO ALONE JUST BECAUSE WE WERE TOGETHER EVERY SINGLE DAY. BUT NOW THAT I GOT A LETTER THE SECOND WEEK I AM BACK TO NORMAL. I HAVE WRITTEN HIM EVERY SINGLE DAY. I HAVENT GOTTEN A CALL OR ANOTHER LETTER BUT FROM READING THE COMMENTS I KNOW THEY ARE COMING AND FEEL SO MUCH BETTER.
To those serving, about to serve and those left behind.
Thank You
Great article. I wish there was something like this for me to read when I went through in 98. Is reville really at 0600 now? I had a great time and after a couple of extended deployments I felt like Bsaic Training was about the easiest part of my time in the Navy. Great article!
STG2(SW)
RTC Great Lakes Division 500 1998
USS Princeton CG-59 2000-2004
I have been thinking about joining the military over the past couple of months. I plan on talking to a recruiter once I get back from vacation. My husband is in the Reserves for the Marines and is stationed out of Selfridge ANG Base in Michigan. It's about a 30 minute drive from where we live. I have been contemplating joining either the Air Force or the Navy. I have a ton of cousins who are in the Army, my husband is in the Marines (which I know I could never do), my aunt was in the Navy and my grandfather was in the navy.
I do have a question if there is any way someone could help me with an answer. I am married and we have a 20 month old son. I obviously know that I will not be able to see them while I'm in Boot Camp, but while I'm in schooling, will I be able to see them or do I have to wait until I'm completely done with everything? I know every branch is different so I just thought I would ask.
I appreciate your time.
Thank you,
Leah
Hi Leah,
From what I know about my husband's A school, it depends on how long your schooling is. I think if your schooling lasts something like 6+ months, your family can move on base with you. If worse comes to worse though, they could move near your base where your schooling is, and you could see them every night and on the weekends. You also can call them any time you want to once you get to school, unlike boot camp.
I don't know how this would be with your husband since he's in the Marines (like could he move next to your base), but that's how it's working for me once my husband gets out of boot (next week!).
If you have any other questions I will try to help! I'm kinda new at this too, but I know all the questions I had at the beginning, and if I can help in any way, I will :)
Jessie
Oh, by the way, do you have any idea of what job you would like to do in the Navy? If you do, that will help you figure out where your school would be, and how long it would take you to finnish your classes, also if there's a follow up school (like my husband is CTT AEF. He has his regular CTT school to go to, and then after, because he's Advanced Electronics, he has a C school to go to, which means a very long time at school for him.)
Hello everyone. i just found this article, and it was very informal. Great job. My boyfrend left on April*th. The graduation is on June 5th lkeyou stated. But i was wondering if anyone knew the days that we are allowed to spend with the graduates. Is it only Fri and Sat? or sunday as well? Congradulations to everyone who has a family member graduating!!!!
I got to spend until Sunday evening with my family/friends the weekend I finished up, but that was ages and ages ago.
Okay. Thanx. I hope we get to spend time with them until sunday as well. Do you have any gift ideas for bootcamp graduations?
Officialnavywife,
I know that everyone in division 214 has full weekend liberty, meaning after graduation (about 10:30 am on Friday) through 9 pm Friday night, Saturday about 8am-9pm, and Sunday 8am-8pm. That's just my husband's division though. Which div is your husband in? I know some others in the other divisions and could probably figure out their schedule for you. It depends when he got to boot camp, and where he is going to school after :) Let me know!
I was thinking about enlisting, I graduated college and can't find a job in this terrible economy.
I use to be in ROTC in College, and I have alot of anxiety about it. I'm worrying about the camp, mostly about commanding others to march, drill and ceremonies, and not getting any sleep, because I usually lay awake at night, then I will have to stay up all day.
How do you get over that kind of anxiety/insomnia, and do you think this will help me or it is right for me? Are these fears normal? I don't want to freak out or washout and be worse off.
I just wonder if I can handle it and make it through.
Thank you.
-Jay
Hi everyone,
I am new to this site and came to see what my fiance is doing on a day to day basis. He left on May 13, but when he got to boot camp apparently he had to wait a few days before even his P days started because they didn't have enough guys to start a full group. So he was pushed back a week. I got my first letter from him last Thursday, (actually first 3 letters) and I'm waiting on a phone call in the next few weeks from him. I haven't recieved any money into his account yet at all, so I've had to pay everything so far since he has been gone. At least its summer so I can work constantly. Its exhausting but enough to keep me busy. I would like to know from you guys how long it takes to get money into their bank accounts? I could definitely use about $200 a week or so. He did tell me they get paid on the 1st and 15th of each month and its the first today but I didn't see anything yet. Just curious
Hi jeansbaby,
If it's anything like it was when I went through, his first paycheck is going to be very small, as it's going to cover his first uniforms issued and his first couple of PX trips. I got my first deposit into my account about week five or so.
Gamergirl, please don't blow smoke up anyone's skirt. One does NOT pay for the initial seabag issue, including the peacoat and the crackerjacks. The Navy even pays for the sneakers. Only Officers have to buy their initial and subsequent uniforms. The only exchange items anyone will have to purchase are toiletries, and those are limited to soap, toothpaste, and toothbrush. You really don't need much more than that during the first half of boot camp. Following Service Week, which wasn't mentioned, is the time to purchase a few extra white hats (they never stay clean) and, in my case, my fruit salad and costume jewelry.
Boot Camp was a cake walk for me and my Recruit Company, as was Basic Combat Training. No one wigged out or went screaming for the fenceline. We had plenty of relaxation at the end of the day, even had movies and smokers on the weekends. The entire company left RTC Monday following Pass In Review. Two buses were waiting for our company following breakfast and issuance of orders.
CaptSquid,
I'm assuming it's been a while since you have been to boot camp. My husband just went through it and I can tell you that yes, they took over $600 out of his pay to pay for all his uniforms and his seabag, including shoes. We had to pay for everything. Also, they haven't been doing Service Week since 2007...So GamerGirl is correct on both those points...
Also, as for people "running for the fence", this literally happened twice in my husband's division. The RDC had to chase the guy back to the division. So yes, it does happen.
CaptnSquid-
In June of 2000 I went through Boot Camp, and the things I've written here in this article applied then. There was no smoking from the minute you got on the bus headed for Great Lakes until you arrived at your 'A' School. There were no movie privileges or televisions or weekend fun unless your division had done so well you earned special liberty, which consisted of highly supervised activities in the liberty lounge at the PX across from Ship One - which was the ship/building my division was trained and bunked in.
We had one guy attempt to leave the ship while he was on watch at 0200 hours, who was stopped just outside by Great Lakes crew. I paid roughly $500 from my first check for my uniform issue, and I remember that vividly because it was, at that time, about $100 shy of my entire pay for two weeks.
In order to speed up the boot camp process, service week (hell week, drill week, whatever you want to call it, what used to be week 5) was removed from the curriculum for recruits. 75% of all training is computer based, each ship's building now functions as it's own little training center, and I can tell you from recent stories I've received thanks to this article that yes, boot camp has changed quite a bit even from when I was there 9 years ago.
Thank you for visiting the article, though, and providing a glimpse of how boot camp was for you many years back.
Thanks guys I really appreciate it. It is sad to hear that but, yeah that would make sense. I mean in his last letter that he wrote me he told me that they got paid on the first and fifteenth, and hes in his 3rd week now, which means that I will probably recieve money from his second check on the fifteenth. I don't need much just like $200 or so to ensure that a couple of bills I will be cutting it close with get paid. I have been stuck paying EVERYTHING for our house by myself since he has left. Our rent + bills + his car insurance + my car insurance. I will pay it all 3 times total before he gets back from boot camp. Apparently he found out he was going to be getting a lower pay grade during boot camp than what his shitty recruiter told him (have nothing good to say about him, everything he told us turned out to be a lie-he was useless). He will be refunded the higher pay grade AFTER boot camp. This has Jean really worried but I assured him that I am taking care of the bills on my end. It has helped me to get through long days w/o him to stay busy and focused. I still have awhile till he graduates (July 17) but I fully plan on taking the whole last part of July off to relax when he returns. I will be taking everything he gets refunded and sittin pretty. Its only fair for holding down the fort completely for him while he was gone for 2 months. I work in the service industry and to come up with that kind of money right now during a recession is HARD.
Hang in there, jeansbaby. I know it's hard, but you sound like you've got a good plan going. Chances are he'll only have about a week after boot camp of leave time before it's off to his A school to learn his primary duties, but you'll get all the information on that before he's out of Boot Camp.
Stay tough!
Hey guys, it's been a while.
Jeansbaby & gamergirl, I actually have some bad news for you, they don't get leave before A school anymore. My husband is getting liberty the weekend of his graduation (3ish days), but that's it. He's staying up at GL until the week after grad, and then flying to his A school from there. The next time I will see him is once he figures out about our housing situation. He may get a day or two to come back home to organize our belongings, but that will be it.
Luckily, since we're married and his schooling is longer than 6 months, I can move up there with him no problem.
Just wanted to let you know that they don't get as much free time as they used to :(
Drat! They've even taken THAT away! They've sped the process right on up then. Glad to hear that you might get to see him to help pack the house. :)
Are you still active duty?
And was it fun b/c everyone in my family went and said it was no biggie, but i thnk theyre just sayin that so i wont worry...
YEAH THEY DONT GET LEAVE AFTER GRADUATION ANYMORE. MY FIANCE GETS THE SAME LIBERTY THE WEEKEND OF AND THEN FLIES OUT TO HIS ASCHOOL. I WAS WONDERING IF IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF YOU ALLS HUSBANDS WEEKS AT BOOTCAMP, DID THEY GET TO CALL AGAIN? AND HOW MANY CALLS IN TOTAL DID YOU RECIEVE?
THANKS
Well everything was going great until I got a phone call from Jean yesterday. He was scheduled to go to A school in Pensacola for Intelligence training. Well apparently his credit score was never checked before he left and signed his contract but now he was told that his credit score isn't high enough because of student loans and so he has to choose a new job. I have already moved in Pensacola because we were told this was where he would train. So my question is what jobs can he pick that will GUARANTEE that he is stationed in Pensacola for training? Does anyone know, I would greatly appreciate this. He is reserves btw.
Oh boy, jeansbaby! I'm so sorry to hear that! I was trained at Corry Station, which is there in Pensacola, and I know that when I was there there was also a training center for Airmen, he definitely needs to check that out if he wants to go through training in Pensacola.
Good informational overview of bootcamp! Not much different than what I went through in the Air Force back during Vietnam. I didn't always appreciate the experiences until I was long past them, but owe a lot to those four years.
Bamiyan,
Thank you for your response. I PLAN on doing nursing in my schooling. I was told by some that nursing is an option, and I was told by others that it's not an option. I was also trying to decide between the Navy and Air Force.
I know this sounds funny, but if I decide on the Navy, it will most likely not be a problem to be stationed at the same base as my husband. If I go into the Air Force, that could be a problem. But, he said that he would be willing to switch to the Air Force when his six year term is up in 2010.
I know if I scored high enough and got into a nursing spot, the schooling would most likely be two or more years. In that case, my husband would be able to live with me. If we cannot live together during schooling, you mentioned something about getting to see him and my son at night and on the weekends. Does this mean that I could leave base for a few hours at night, then report back in at a certain time? Also, does that mean I can stay with them on the weekends or would I have so much time out during the day and report back in at night? This is the thing that is most important on deciding whether or not I will join.
Another thing I heard was that the Navy boot-camp is indoors? Is this true? I was just wondering because I wanted to TRY to make boot-camp around fall/winter. My husband is laid off all winter and would be able to be home with our son. And I liive in Michigan so I know how winters are... Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!! lol
Any responses would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Leah
I went to talk to a recruiter today. I got most of the information I needed. He had me take a practice ASVAB. They told me that I did good, but I didn't think so. I guess there is a study guide I can get. Does anyone know what it's called or where to get it? I would appreciate it. Thank you!
College graduate whose been working as a civilian seriously considering joining the Navy to work in the Medical Corps. Trying to get as much information online but seems info is different from place to place. Trying to find out about Officer school as well as I have learned from the Navy website that this would be an option for me. I am reading that their "boot camp" is different and would love some additional information about this. This is something that I have wanted to do for some time. My family is not really happy about it and they don't want me to do this, which I can understand there concern. But I feel that this is something that I need to do, Any advise, guidance, information that anyone can offer would be very much appreciated!
Wanted to ask about Navy reserves as well? Same schedule? Boot Camp then A school? Seriously seeking information!!!
Thanks
Hi guys, just really wanted to update everyone,
I am on several forums but this seems to be the only one with some traffic. Anyways, things are going better for us. I missed a scheduled call from jean last week, which was very depressing for me but I listen to the minute long message he left for me on a daily basis. The key was that it was a scheduled call, because it's the unscheduled calls that are bad news. He did reach his mom who called me and told me that he seemed to be in decent spirits. His division is apparently doing really well and they are in a push program (which means that they are pushing his division through boot camp quickly). He would've been out in 6 weeks if they had not kept his division in P-days for 2 weeks. But because his division is doing so well I get letters from him several times a week now. The better they do the more writing priviledges they get. And last week after I missed that phone call I got 2 letters the next day ( 1 was 10 pages long) so I was okay about the whole thing. I'm staying positive for him on the home front and concentrating on paying for all our bills and that makes my days go faster. Plus I talk to his mom on pretty much a daily basis which also helps. See I'm pretty lucky b/c as far as I know he is going to Pensacola for "A" school and thats only 4 hours from me so I can see him on weekends while he is training. I'm still waiting to hear what new job he chose though after they told him he couldn't to IS. Waiting for his letters helps me get through the weeks but honestly just writing to him helps me also. I guess its my journaling. And trust me they do rely on those letters to get through bootcamp, b/c my boyfriend usually isn't a reader. I made him a book for Valentines day 2 years ago that I know he still hasn't read all the way through yet. But I sent him a huge packet of all the letters I had written when he first left till I got his address. About 15 letters total, and he told me he stayed up all night reading them. I am looking at plane tickets pretty seriously now, and its only 4 weeks away till his PIR. I CAN'T WAIT!!!
i wont to get in to the navy ever since i went to college but droped out because i couldn't pay for it and i talked to a guy that went to school with me that the navy is bad ass they do some bad shit that i always wanted do
a very close friend of mine leaves sometime in december this year for bootcamp. are they allowed to make calls there?
Hello Gamergirl I would llike to thank you for having this site so that all of us Navy parents or husbands, wifes have a place to come and see what happens at Boot camp on a weekly basis! Thats so awesome of you! My son flew out of OKC, OK yesterday and He is on his 1st day at Great Lakes today! And I have to say I miss him badly! He is 19 yrs old and never really been away from home, so how long does the separtion anxiety last days, wks, months? LOL I know he is going to be fine and in good hands, I just worry about him being torn down and built back up because he is a very tender hearted person and I wouldn't want someone to fault him for that... if you know what I mean... His life long best friend is also there! Can I put mail in my sons envelope for his friend or do I have to send it separetly? If you can answer any of my silly questions I would greatly apperciate it! Thanking you in Advance Nichole P.S. what do I call him now that his in the bootcamp? is he still Seaman Recruit or do they call them something else?
Hi Nichole!
I got your email, and I want you to know that all the information about graduation should be sent to you by him toward the end of boot camp.
Your son's friend may not wind up in your son's recruit division, so it's best to send mail to them separately. You should start getting letters about two weeks in, depending on how long he spends in processing and if the division earns early privileges.
You call him whatever you like, darlin'. The only folks who have to worry about calling him anything different (like MA Roden or anything like that) are his shipmates. ;-)
As for A-school, I've learned that you don't get any more than Liberty Weekend after graduation, then it's off to A-school. Once in A-school he'll have set times throughout the year where he has the opportunity to take leave, most of the major holidays and all that.
Thanks for coming by, and thank you so much for the compliments!
Thank you for responding so quickly! He has a Nephew that is due Nov. 24th I sure hope he will be able to come and see him when he is born! lol on the what do I call him! I call him my baby boy Nick! But you know I didn't know what his proper title would be, and i guess he won't be a boy when he comes outta boot camp, he'll be a man! And I have to thank all the ones in IL that are gonna make that happen! Thanks for your advise on his friends mail, how would I get his info? Should I go to the Recruiter and get his info cause I bet he won't be thinking about sending his other mom the info, they are going to be so busy and when they aren't I bet they are so pooped out that all they wanna do is rest. which I can relate to. even tho I have never been run thru the ringer the way these guys are going to! But it is very good experience for the both of them its time to step up to the plate and become a man and I am quite sure this is the best step for growing up and learning! Thanks again for your advise and I appreciate your timely response kudos to Gamergirl!
Just would like to let you know I received my sons clothes today.. His recruiter called me last week with his address I have sent 4 letters so far put a calling card in for him to call home and some pics of the family. His best friend had to be sent back because he had back trouble in May, They must have caught something during his physical, I feel so bad for him becoming a sailor has been his dream for yrs. Nick is going to go through this adventure on his own! Great experience for him I am so PROUD of him! Thanks again
Hi everyone. My husband just left for RTC July 1st. I missed his first call and haven't heard from him since. I did recieve a quick typed up letter with very little information except his mailing address and a website that is mainly designed for graduation information. I am a mother of four and was wondering when I can expect benefits, insurance, and military ID information to come in the mail.
thank you!
rmr says:
17 months ago
Thank you for serving your country gamergirl. I am impressed with your ability to remember the week by week breakdown of boot camp. After going through Army boot camp, the only thing I consciously remembered was a lot of pain and yelling. But I think you will find that long after you think you have forgotten some of the training, it will come back as needed. Many times I have reacted instinctively to a situation, particularly when first-aid is needed, and have been amazed that the training re-surfaced so quickly (it's been 23 years since boot camp for me). Apologies for the lengthy comment, but you've touched on a subject near and dear to my heart. Nothing but respect for our veterans. Off to join your fanclub now. Thanks for the great hub!