Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes is located in Northern Chicago, Illinois
Reunion,for 12th.Div.Company 377,Cobra Company,October 01,1986
Let me know,anything you know.20180623_015516_kindlephoto-137901947.jpg
Read more…Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes is located in Northern Chicago, Illinois
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Let me know,anything you know.20180623_015516_kindlephoto-137901947.jpg
Read more…GREAT LAKES ILLINOIS,RTC/NTC,GRADUATE.BOOTCAMP,(airman recruit).12th.division,company 377/cobra company.Oct 01,1986-jan31,1987.graduated distinction.I was a e-1.northern chicago. I love chicago,my city.chris,usn/dav/prm.2018.20180623_015516_kindlephoto-138102106.jpg
Read more…HELLO HOW,ARE YOU SAILORS DOING?THIS SAILOR IS DOING GREAT.I WAS IN BOOTCAMP AT GREAT LAKE'S,ILLINOIS.OCTOBER01,1986THRU. JANUARY 31,1987,ALSO COMPLETED AIRMANAPPRENTICESHIP SCHOOL,RIGHT AFTER BOOTCAMP,AT THE SAME PLACE.MY DIVISION WAS 12th.DIV.MY COMPANY WAS 377.IS THERE ANY SAILORS,OUT THERE THAT WAS WITH ME.
Read more…Hey, shipmates!Anyone out there who was part of Company 053 at Great Lakes in early 1972? Bill DitewigRPOC, Co. 053
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Then came your indoctrination, which took you through the different rates, pay, insurance, customs, traditions, naval history and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
We then took an exam from which the Navy gave you a choice of rates that you were suited for. We all started out as Seaman, learning boat handling, tying knots and reading the compass among other seaman duties.
Then came fire week, where you learned how to fight fires using the hand held bottles, then onto larger fires in large drums using foam and the buddy system to handle hoses in small areas. Going into a room with gas masks and removing them a few feet before you came out to give you the experence of knowing why you need and the correct way to fit a mask to your face.
Then came the Physical Training, exercising, sea survival training and taking part in athletic competition. Personal hygiene and first aid was given by the PT dept. You learned how to climb ropes, run a relay, swim under hazardous conditions (slide down a chute inside the cockpit of a plane undue your seatbelt while underwater and come to the surface.) If you happen not to have a life jacket on, how to tie the leg ends in a knot, fill them with air and support yourself in the crotch of the pants to keep your head above water.
Then came time to "Hip Hop" (not in a dictionary) the term at Great Lakes means marching to classes, and drilling on the "grinder", close order drill and physical drill with arms. You are also trained in scentry, better known as guard duty. Which you do plenty of during boot camp.
A couple of our guys had a problem as to which was their left from their right. On Sunday's there was a company that graduated and you marched in parade with your company and any competitive Flags that your company won during that week. The flags were the Military Drill, Brigade, Rooster, A, C, Star and the I. We don't want to forget the Hall of Fame Flag which was the Symbol of Supreme achivement in the recruit training program and was awarded to the company which had won five rooster flags.
You also went through an ordnance and gunnery phase. Starting with small arms, the rifle and up to the 5" 38 caliber, 20 and 40 MM.
We all remember "Field Day", swabing the barrak floors (deck), making up of your racks (beds), diddy bags at the end of the racks and the scrubbing of your leggings to make sure you were neat and clean for the following day. At the end of the day there came time for mail call, letter writing and a bit of time for yourself. And who can forget about CHOW.
One week we devoted to "Service Week". Some of the jobs took us into the Mess Hall (clean up), picking up around the grounds, paper, plastic, gum wrappers, tending to flower beds, standing guard duty, mowing the lawn, etc. etc.
Then came the graduation of your own company with your flags of accomplishment. Company 143 did come away with a one star flag for
cleanliness of barracks, personnel and seabags.
Follow the link above and you can read about my bootcamp days at Great Lakes in Aug-Nov 1972 - Company 360. I do remember it snowing on October 23rd 6 inches - way too early for a southern boy . I remember that first night at Camp Barry, those old barracks at Great Lakes.
I immediately realized I was in a different world from my beloved Tennessee. Spent the first few days in Camp Barry I think while we got shot and poked and all other kind of things. Made it into a Special Units Company because of college and ROTC experience---Co 921 State Flags---I carried Alaska. Did not do all the drilling that regular companies did--went to class and practiced marching and and carrying flags for graduations. Even performed (marched) in Chicago for an Armed Forces Day parade. Also took all my liberty days in Chi-town. Overall a pretty good experience.
My story of RTC Great Lakes Bootcamp Days