Boot Camp

RTC, Recruit Training Command.  Commonly referred to as Boot Camp.  The NAVY used to have different boot camps across the country, but currently there is only one employed.  It is located near Chicago in Great Lakes, Illinois (known as Great Mistakes to all the recruits).  Because it is the only training facility for recruits currently it is a integrated training camp.  Which means, to a select lucky few you can go through boot camp with the opposite sex.  That's right guys boot camp with females!

Unfortunately for the girls there are no Divisions (formerly known as companies) that are all female.  The divisions are either all male or half and half.

The different divisions are separated by numbers.  Each division is assigned its own number.  This gives each division its own identity, something to fight for, have pride and honor in.  Each division's number is on a division flag.  The division carries this around with them wherever they go so they can be identified by others.

Certain division numbers have different meanings.  There are FAST divisions, these are usually for prior service or for other reasons and the training for these units only lasts about 2 to 3 weeks.  There are also 400 divisions, these are usually reserved for national guard or reserves.  Their training is longer than the fast divisions but not as long as regular navy.

The other divisions are 200, 300, and 900 divisions.  200 and 300 divisions are regular divisions and 900 are the performing units.

The different division numbers are specific numbers.  They are only referred to as a "300" or a "900" division.  My specific division number was Division 943. 

Now you know how recruit training is organized but what is boot camp actually like?  Try my virtual tour.  It's like "Diet Boot Camp", same great taste but less calories.  You can see what boot is actually like without all the pain that usually comes with it.

Virtual Boot Camp (still under construction sorry!)

Special thanks goes out to the Navy's RTC website.  I used a lot of photos from there until I can get my own scanned in.