So you’ve decided to join the Navy and head off to Navy Great Lakes. As you get closer to your ship date, you may be wondering what the food tastes like and what the days will be like for you. You might even be pondering whether you’ll be able to text your friends and family while you’re at Navy boot camp Great Lakes.
While we aren’t able to get you a rundown on Wednesday’s lunch special, we can tell you the things you need to know before you make your way to becoming a Sailor.
How Long is Navy Boot Camp?
Navy boot camp consists of ten weeks of training on the western shore of Lake Michigan. The first couple of days are filled with learning the basics of being in the military like standing at attention, reciting your general orders and learning proper military dress. The days are incredibly long, and at times sleep is minimal. You’ll get assigned to a division of about 80 men and women and finish the rest of your training with the assigned division.
During training after you have gone through the initial Navy processing days (p days), each week focuses on a different aspect of what it takes to become a Navy sailor. The first week is the most intensive for physical conditioning. There will be introductions to marching, rank symbolizing and recognition and education on equal opportunity, rape awareness, sexual harassment, and the Navy core values.
In weeks five and six, you’ll execute the basics in damage control and firefighting, and you’ll enter the gas chamber (side note: make sure you eat light on gas chamber day.)
At the culmination of these eight weeks, new Sailors return to their training cohort for an additional two weeks of training in a less intense environment aimed specifically at developing life skills and adjusting to their new lives in military service.
How Do I Prepare for Navy Boot Camp?
Boot camp requires the development of high mental and physical strength. Not only do you have to be able to pass the Initial Navy Fitness Assessment (IFA), but you must also be able to retain and recite your eleven general orders and the Sailor’s creed.
To increase your physical endurance and strength to score well on the IFA, start doing some timed runs each week leading up to boot camp and mix in some push-ups and sit-ups into your routine. Part of being a great Sailor is holding yourself accountable and to high standards of excellence. Be honest with yourself about where you are in your fitness.
If you don’t exercise and practice regularly, you will struggle, and it will be more difficult for you to pass the IFA so get out there and hit the pavement!
Read more about the physical requirements of Navy boot camp.
Increasing your mental strength requires obtaining knowledge and reading your Bluejacket Manual on the daily is a great way to get started. Your recruiter should have one you can borrow or be able to issue you one before you ship out to Great Lakes. Some things you want to remember are your general orders, the core values of the Navy, and the Sailor’s Creed. You will be asked and often tested on these during your time in Navy Boot Camp.
Read more about what you need to learn before Navy boot camp.
When is Graduation?
Navy boot camp graduation happens on the last day of your eight-week training from Navy Boot Camp. For you to graduate, you must complete all physical training requirements such as the minimum number of push-ups, sit-ups and running a mile and a half in the maximum time allowed. You must also pass Battle Stations, a 12-hour hands-on exercise involving everything you learned about swimming survival, damage control, teamwork and more. Once you complete Battle Station, you will be given your Navy hat which signals you are now a Sailor.
Do You Get Paid During Boot Camp?
Once you take your oath at MEPS, you’re in the military which means you get paid. But there is a catch; you have to go through the intake process of the first couple days of boot camp, and once the military establishes your pay records, you’ll see money in your checking account. Payday in the military happens on the 1st and 15th of each month.
Do I Get Mail During Boot Camp?
Mail is something everyone looks forward to especially when you’re in military basic training. Within the first week of arriving at Navy boot camp, you’ll be given an address card to send home to your family so they can send you letters. Since Great Lakes is a huge place housing thousands of recruits, you’ll have a specific address for your ship.
If you’d like to have mail from your friends and family come faster, have them download the Sandboxx app. They’ll be able to send you letters directly from their phone. We’ll ship the letters overnight so that they arrive at RTC Great Lakes the next day.
As always, we are here to help you in any way possible especially when it comes to having family members sending you letters while you’re in training.
If you have a loved one at RTC Great Lakes, be sure to join our RTC Great Lakes Facebook group by clicking here!
Это срезанный пласт гумуса с живой изумрудной растительностью, вывихнутый в ролл и оконченный к пересадке на участок. Рулонная травка для газона отращивается в течение двух лет по специализированной схемы из специально мешанине семян луговых злаков. При достижении превосходной частоты дерновины и густоты травостоя трава срезают и сворачивают в рулоны для дальнейшей транспортировки. средство озеленения.
рулонный газон
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My brother just got there, and we received his mail. I am wanting to send him a Bible, but don’t know if that is allowed. I know care packages are not allowed in boot camp, and want to know if this would fall under that category. Thanks.
Care package are allowed , they give free bibles during boot camp too. I just recently graduated.
I want to join the Navy but I’m concern about what is the minimum of push-ups and how long is the gas chamber? I just need to be ready for it.
I forget the nickname for the gas chamber but some feel that”Suzy” (the smoke chamber”)is the worst of the two-, but I disliked them both equally and the gas chamber is basically a aluminum sided building that looks like a slightly larger version of a residential home’s garage and they send in 1 or 2 companies of 80+seaman recruits crowded together marching at half step in circles wearing gasmasks while a porthole is opened from outside and they deposit tablets like urinal cakes into a stainless steel pan of water or some clear liquid surrounded by a chicken wire enclosure that emits CN/CS tear gas vapors and then they order the masks off and held up high for the observers and after everyone has 3 foot long mucous strands dangling from their burning red faces they begin to allow 1 recruit at a time to exit IF they’ve repeated correctly the observer/doorman’s full name,rank,rating and FPO including the zip code after hearing it just once and never having been aquatinted with them prior to entering “Gerrie”(?) or they have to go to the back of the 160 sailor line and wait for another try!! Suzy is a long concrete and steel above ground bunker that they open the large hatches on the top and sides and build a fire of wood and toxic materials that would be encountered in ablaze ship’s compartments and then they close the hatches and suffocate the fire leaving the smoke and residual heat trapped inside and without a OBA or O2 tank 2 single file lines must crouch close to the floor and hold the people in front of them with one hand and use the other to grasp a iron chain suspended a foot or two above the deck to work their way to the exit. A little piece of advice for you is that you advise your shipmates to get the best score and earn the flags ASAP to get the “big and little chicken” flags and then you can march right past the blocks long chow lines holding up the big and little chicken flags marching and singing songs that infuriates the thousands of recruits you can march past to the head of the chow lines without any waiting at attention or parade rest. If you’re assigned to the galley for”Hellweek” make sure to be prepared for being scalded by steam if assigned to the scullery and get yourself a extra pair of boondockers (ankle high leather utility boots)if assigned to”Godzilla or Baby Godzilla” the large and small garbage disposal units because the putrid slop will spray your boots and they will rot and emit a foul stench in short order, also don’t fall for the”salute the torpedoes outside the galley/mess hall gag passed down from the more advanced phase “raisins” and you will be ok. Color Company#262 Division2 Great Lakes RNTC
The gas chamber is easy , I mean I have been through it multiple times so take that I to considering the odds of a bullet in their chest or a lost limb but easy peezy
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My son left for boot camp on Jan 11. He has been set back twice! Once because his bunk mate tested positive for COVID so he had to quarantine. The second time because he was sick after getting the booster and missed the physical test. I received a call last Thursday with the second update. Will he be paid for all this extra time? And will these delays hurt his chances of being prepared for the physical fitness section since he hasn’t been allowed to work out during the early weeks?
Hello Angela, your son will be alright. He will be paid for every day he is on active duty, whether he is in boot camp or in the fleet. After he returns to full duty status he will probably receive remedial physical training to prep him for his fitness test. Though this will be on top of his other duties, it will benefit him in the long run. The Navy wants him to graduate as a fully ready sailor and will give him every opportunity ro do so, if he makes the effort and I’m sure he will. Even as recruits, these young sailors are developing esprit de corps and one of the last things they want to do let their buddies down. I’m sure he will do well and so will you!
How long are the graduates released for the afternoon of their graduation day?
My son Chance left December 6, 2021 for basic training. We received his address. So proud of him and excited for him to start his life. Can’t wait to hug his neck.
Kara,
How long till you received his address?
We received a form letter with our daughters address about 2 1/2 weeks after the shipped oit.
It says u need to b vaccinated but what if i have a antibody test done and my antibodies are a ove vaccine standard can i still attend
“Above vaccine standards” doesn’t make sense. The reason vaccinations are given is to create memory cells, so your body recognizes the virus and knows how to fight it. So, unless you’ve already had COVID, your antibodies won’t “meet the requirements.”
We have used vaccines successfully, for 200 years. If you went to school in The United States, you’ve received many vaccinations. Vaccinations are required in all 50 states, for a child to be able to go to school. THEY ARE REQUIRED.
The only parties that benefit from having an American population resistant to vaccines, are the Russians and Chinese. It allows them to use biological weapons on us with greater effect.
If you are worried about receiving a vaccination, you probably shouldn’t join the military. Because you will receive vaccination shots at MEPS. And those shots will probably be the least of your worries.
Wild infections produce wild immunity. It’s crap-shoot immunity with genetic holes in it. Vaccine makes sure your immune system graduates boot camp and is ready to defend you.
My son left for boot camp 23 years ago I hated it l cried but here it is 23 years later he is aLieutenant commander and. Rn it was the best thing he could have done he has made a good life for himself and his family it wasn’t always easy and I still hate alway telling him good by I just got back from seeing him in SanDiego and I’m so proud of him it took awhile before I heard. From him so moms out there you will hear from them
Thank you. Cause’ his siblings and I are anticipating the letters and any calls if any and when he comes home, as they say, from boy to man. I am a proud mama.
Romy omg, I’m having anxiety and just the thought of my son leaving I just can’t . I know I’m going to lose my s***
My son went into the Navy after coming back from his first appointment he was a different man at age 23 and he hasn’t talked to me since. He’s hateful and he has zero respect for me as a mother. I wish I knew what happened to him. He’s in his second term now, second and listing so he’s in his 8th year. He’s made a good life for himself but he’s not the same. A lot of military men I talk to, half of them say what you said and half of them say that the military will change a man because they see things and then it closes them off. My son and I used to be really close now I don’t even know him.
Information sent about the Graduation, well none of the websites are up and no answer to any phone#.
How else can you get questions answered?
Does anyone know if it would be possible for the separate parents to go to the graduation with their spouse? And also, my biggest concern is that I have 3 little ones that my husband and I need to take with us we have no one to watch over them when we leave for the graduation.
I’ve heard only two guest are allowed to attend
**No exceptions will be authorized for additional guest** So, only two can attend.
My son’s recruiter told me only 2 graduation tickets will be issued. If there are more family members they will have to wait at the hotel or outside until graduation is over.
May son, left for boot camp on Tuesday October 26. We have not heard from him. They said we should receive his address first week. Would just love to know how he is doing & an his address so we can send him mail. Will someone please let me know how long it actually takes to get an address. Thank you
My grandson has been gone 3 weeks
No phone call address nothing
I’m so mad
If you call your local recruiting office they should be able to give you mailing address and information.
My son left September 6th I called the recruiting office to find out details about quarantine once quarantine is done they move them to another ship where you can send mail. Recruiter can give you the address. I received first phone call October 10th. Hang in there. It’s a long haul. Hopefully you get to talk to him soon.
I heard a brief, I have arrived. Then nothing for over 21 days. Then the welcome letter arrived. Then 4 days later a letter. Then a CALL. I was overjoyed!
My twins left December 12th I’m very proud of them but I need to know if they are good this waiting period is killing me.
Not clear on if both parents need to vaccine in order to attend the graduation the letter say no but my daughter is stating that we do
From my understanding the 2 people you child picks for graduation attendance do have to vaccinated at least 14 days prior to graduation and it has to be the entire series (both shots) I hope this helped.
I will be 36years old this coming September can I still enlisted for the Navy?
Hello,
I just received a letter from my sister with a paper about her graduation. It says to fill out a form, but I didn’t receive any kind of form to fill out. If anyone knows what form I need to fill out please help me!
My son left for Bootcamp May 16th.
Does anyone know what week they do battle stations?
Hi Nicole,
mine Son’s first day as Recruit was
on May 13:)
Wishing your Husband,my Son and every single woman and man out there best of the health,and luck.
Aslo,too all of us Families.
Zorka
Great information. My Grandson will be there soon.
Eight weeks? I had to go through 12 weeks in 1971. Pretty easy.
Great information for recruits and their families. My daughter Jordon Louie will appreciate the article!
Very excited for my Daughter’s journey.