Naval Training Center San Diego

Comment

Comment by JL "Johnny" Johnson on October 9, 2011 at 12:37am

It must not have lasted long. We got one afternoon liberty before we graduated, but only one haircut that was a buzz. After that it was just a trim.

 

Comment by Alan Ray Baugher on October 8, 2011 at 10:09pm

Yes, and for you guys who missed it, it was the night that we could smoke all you wanted and put them out on the deck. Kind of a stress reliever I guess. They also started a new program when I came. We got 3 weekends in town. The last 3 of boot camp. One week half got saturday and half got Sunday. The next weekend we switched. I do not know how long that lasted. Also we only got one short haircut in bootcamp while Great lakes got a buzz the last day or so.

Comment by JL "Johnny" Johnson on October 8, 2011 at 7:26pm

The "smokers" were boxing matches. One of the guys in our company, H. J. Mule (pronounced mu lay) from New Orleans was the US gold gloves champion. He tried to enter them but after he demolished a couple of guys they banned him from the matches.

The whale boat crews were selected based on size and strength as I recall. Except for the coxswain, of course. Those of us who were on the team usually had to hustle down to the dock right after morning chow. I really enjoyed that activity. I don't know when they eliminated that, but it was a tradition that should have been kept. Did RTC go co-ed before it closed? If so they would have felt obligated to stick some ladies on the towing team.

Comment by Alan Ray Baugher on October 8, 2011 at 7:22pm

My most vivid reminder of the whale boat races, besides our company winning the race, was almost killing each other with the oars when we were just beginning. I will bet we were a site. Everybody was out of sinc. A whole lot of swearing and the like.

Comment by Alan Ray Baugher on October 8, 2011 at 5:35pm

I am interested. Does anyone know what the "Smokers" were?

Comment by James W Ward on October 8, 2011 at 5:35pm

We still had the whale boats but a limited number of crew members.. I was told I was too short, hell I grew two inches in boot camp. When we doubled timed it, I was alway 4 steps to the taller two steppers... Now I do not run anywhere...

Haven't heard back on the sign from McMillin, I asked if there was an inventory of equipment when they took over?  Only a few days and I will be there.  I will not have comms other than my cell phone. 

Comment by JL "Johnny" Johnson on October 8, 2011 at 5:33pm

Not only do I remember the whale boat race, I remember all those early morning rowing and practice sessions getting ready for the race. What was really great was we would be rowing whaleboats in the channel while the grunts were double timing it around the grinder over at MCRD. Made me proud to be a sailor!

 

I stumbled across an interesting site today, http://oldbluejacket.com  that has some interesting pictures, videos and history. It also has another picture of "the sign," and a video of RTC back in 62.

Comment by Jim Decota on October 8, 2011 at 5:29pm

Sadly, the whaleboats were gone when I was there in 72! What a shame, would have been fun! However, not much else has changed! That is until the new century! Now, NTC is just a shadow of it's history! Who said progress is a good thing?

Comment by Alan Ray Baugher on October 7, 2011 at 12:05am

I was at NTC from about Sept. 29 or so till Dec. 23 1962. Anybody remember the "Smokers" or the whale boat races. Our company comander was prouder of winning that pennant for the whale boat race than any other. My company was 62-523. Can't say I enjoyed it but it was interesting. Me and disipline did not get along very well. I was a foolish kid. But I survived, praise God.

Comment by Jim Decota on October 2, 2011 at 4:59pm

Trevor, be sure you sign up at RTC, San Diego as well! Since NTC had a lot of commands there I can see why here as well. So, boot has it's own!

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