Navy Boot Camp: The First Step is the Hardest

[cue "Jaws" theme music]

U.S. Navy boot camp is at the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, IL.

It waits... to swallow up scared little recruits and take them to the bottom of Lake Michigan.  Noooo!!!!!

Seriously, it's not that bad, don't worry.  If you want speed advice on how to survive Navy boot camp here it is:

1.  shut up (or figure out how to not get caught talking to each other)
2.  sleep
3.  receive letters
4. be ready to miss loved ones
5.  shut up
6.  study
7.  eat healthy
8.  *attitude is everything - squash your ego*
9.  get along with the other recruits
10.  shut up
 
Here's my experience and more tips on how to make it through with as few problems as possible:

--------------------

I stepped onto Naval Training Center on July 28th, 2009 after the most comfortable bus ride I'd ever been on.  I really didn't want to get off that thing.  It had soothingly soft seats and monitors that played a boot camp video for us.  No one bothered us, we just sat there in calm silence watching the movie while the Chicago sun set around us.

"The calm before the storm" suits I think.

The plane ride from Baltimore to Chicago had been uneventful.  I had flown in with a group of 7 other recruits.  Once arriving at O'Hare airport, we walked to where we needed to be.  There were 3 Navy RDCs (Recruit Division Commander, Navy's version of drill sergeant) waiting for us.  We were instructed to empty our pockets and turn over items like magazines, drinks, or food.  One RDC told me he'd be sure to eat my unopened Power Bar.  Good to know bud.

After this we joined a group of about 20 recruits sitting in rows in a corner.  More small groups would show up and the same process repeated about 5 more times.  It was weird sitting in those silent rows.  Even though the area we were using was fairly quiet, random people still walked past every couple of minutes.  Many had looks of curiosity mixed with pity on their faces.  Carry on, nothing to see here.

So back to Great Lakes.  We got off the bus, went inside and lined up facing each other while an RDC paced between us giving instructions.  God help the fool that looked at him. "I told you to look straight ahead!!!!!!"

THIS IS WHEN IT GETS REAL.  YOU WILL BE SCARED.  (it's okay, you're supposed to be)

After standing there for a few minutes and listening to random kids get yelled at for looking at an RDC or not standing on the line, we started in-processing.  This involves uniform issue, hair cuts, giving up the last of your personal stuff, etc.

I think I only brought my ID, calling card, some cash and dental records with me (I have bad Irish teeth).  My memory of boot camp is already fading a bit, but I can't recall ever thinking damn I wish I'd brought this.  They gave us a Recruit Gift Card with $100 on it.  We were taken to the NEX (Navy Exchange) there twice to shop for any needed items.

We got a 5 minute phone call the first night.  Be ready for it.  Don't lose talk time screwing up the calling card or forgetting your dad's number like I did.  I ran out of time and wasn't able to talk to him until 3 or 4 weeks later.  I was able to write letters in the meantime though.  Ehow has a good article about writing letters to Navy boot camp recruits.  Except for the part about recruiters not giving out the address, the article is accurate. 

We all went without sleep that first night.  The only nap I got was when the RDCs told us to put our heads on the desks we were sitting at.  Some recruits told me later they thought it was a test.  I never thought that.  I honestly believed they were giving us a few minutes sleep, maybe for legal reasons.  Either way, I was right and enjoyed 15 minutes of sweet sleep in the middle of all that "fun"  That is, until:   "Get up recruits!!!!!"


Next we were taken to our temporary compartment, or barracks.  Our RDCs had heavy metal blasting when our newly formed division (60 of us) entered.  I like heavy metal so the music actually helped a bit. Guys, if you want to scare me, play country.

--------------------

Now began the routine. Or the beginning of routine.  I was in an all-male division.  We were ruled by 3 RDCs. One senior chief and two 1st-class petty officers.  They were all tough, but I got the sense they knew their stuff.

The thing about boot camp is attitude.  You're in the military and you could be going into combat.

If you have a decent attitude you can see things with a different filter.  Instead of being yelled at about some stupid shoelace being tied wrong, you're being shown the importance of following directions/attention to detail.  It could save your life someday. 

But back to the routine.  We spent a lot of time folding uniforms.  There's a different way to fold each item.  The camo (NWU) is folded one way, dress blues another.  I hated it.  I'm not a folder.  I got yelled at a couple of times when my folding sucked.  "Slaughter you're in trouble if you're struggling already!!!"   

Good to see my college degree means I'm smart.

We learned to make our racks (bunks) with our bunkmate.  We'd be given about 5 minutes to do it.  I think I  hated it worse than folding.  I don't know what it is about making a bed that I don't like, I just know I don't.  Come up with an effective method with your partner and do it the same every time. 

That's another thing about boot camp: teamwork.  It's going to be a HUGE focus.  Our Navy isn't about any one sailor.

We need each other in the fleet, so the "me me" attitude starts to be pushed out at Great Lakes. It isn't pretty.  A lot of younger guys struggled with the concept.  Help others when you can.  Show an idiot with a college degree how to fold a shirt and he may help you study for a test.  Pass someone your uneaten dessert and he may give you boot shining tips.

PT, physical training, was usually in the afternoons in Freedom Hall.  I didn't like this much either.  I was used to running outside first thing in the morning.  I was used to stretching BEFORE running.  None of this happened at Navy boot camp.  We would run really fast warm-up laps around the track before stretching and running the longer run.  I pulled 67 muscles that first "warm-up" run.  After that I stretched in the compartment beforehand. 

Get in shape before all of this! You don't want "am I going to pass the PRT?" added to all the other stress.  Check out what you need to score here. You're looking for at least Good Low.  I saw two from our division get held back because they couldn't pass the Navy Physical Readiness Test.  Don't let that be you.

The lack of sleep was the hardest for me.  I'm 32 and I like me some 8 hour sleep!  Plan on getting 5 to 6 hours a night.  Practice for it before you get there.  The RDCs would leave us at 9-10pm and return at 5-6 am.  Between getting ready for bed and trying to drown out a room full of chatting teenagers, I didn't get to sleep until 11 usually.  During the night I'd be woken up to stand watch or iron my uniforms.  I still remember that sinking feeling when I'd see the lights switch on through my closed eyes.  I knew what was coming.  Lots of yelling and screaming and LOUD heavy metal.  "Get your asses UP!!!! Get up!! Get up!! Get up!!"

--------------------

After about a week of observation the RDCs appointed recruit leadership positions. At the top was the RPOC, recruit petty officer in charge. I was Laundry PO.  It was perfect.  I didn't want a big leadership position.  Those guys got yelled at all the time in the beginning.  No thanks.  I had my quiet laundry room and my crew of four to help.  We took care of the division's laundry and we did it well.  And we also avoided some IT (intensive training, or punishment) sessions by being in that room.

Written tests weren't too bad.  There were four tests I think.  Basic Navy knowledge stuff.  I studied every Sunday when we had half a day off.  Some recruits failed tests but they were always allowed to take one retake.  Everyone passed the retakes.

Battlestations is the final obstacle between you and those front gates.  Listen if your RDCs give advice on how to pass.  Hopefully you've been cultivating good relationships with most of your shipmates.  You'll need them at battlestations.  I can't legally write much about the event, but I will tell you this.  Everyone passed in my division.  Stay awake during the instruction periods, stand up if you need to.  Keep calm, DON'T ARGUE with each other or the facilitators.  It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

I'll probably come back to this post and add things or elaborate on others.  Email me with questions. :)