Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes is located in Northern Chicago, Illinois

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  • Man-o-man... December 2, 1980, a night that is forever etched on my brain. Getting out of the airplane @ O'Hare and felt that "HAWK" hit me.. I was ready to go back home that night... I forget my first company, but my CC wad GMGC Phillips, broke my ankle and had to finish up with Co 376...

  • After 6 weeks of boot camp I was having a hard time getting demerits and pushing the piece too much. Then I came down with pneumonia. I was really hurting when I went into the hospital but within 3 days of rest and good drugs, I felt fine again.  But they wouldn't let me out for 5 more weeks. Finally, I went to a holding company to pick up with new company to finish boot camp.  Another recruit who came out of the hospital with me had only 2 weeks of training. The first thing they did in the holding company was a morning inspection, you know where you have to hold the collar of your tee shirt out for inspection. The DI came by an screamed in my face that I was a scrounge.  I just stood there motionless as possible.  He passed me by to the next kid with only only 2 weeks under his belt.  When then DI screamed the same thing at him, he flinched and looked down. He was dismissed to stay in holding company for a while.  I got my orders to move on for the last 2 weeks of boot camp.  Whew, what a relief.  It was a breeze after that.
  • While I was at Great Lakes as Company Commander I felt like there was a lot of Politics going on, but that is long gone.
  • The good ole' day's. July-Sept-76. Co 237 I believe and PO1 Anderson was the CC
  • Remember getting rousted out at 5am every morning, to line up on the street to march to the chow hall for breakfast.  As we stood freezing in line for half hour or so, we could hear Revielle go off in the brig nearby.  Wow, we thought, even the brig rats were more privileged than us.  But it was good training for those of us that later served as deck apes when we got out to fleet.
  • I was a Company Commander  at RTC Great Lakes, I also worked at RTC Security from 1983 to 1989.
  • It was 41 years ago today I joined the U.S.Navy. I am proud to have served.
  • FIRST THREE DAYS: Arrived at RTC from NY on 13 Sept 1961 in the pouring rain about midnite.  Two DIs were yelling at us to get off the bus and line up.  They led us to a barracks and issued ponchos so we could run around in the rain.  Next morning about 5am they yelled for us to get up nad walk to the chow hall, didn't know how to march yet. We didn't get any uniforms for about 3 days and had live in our civies. All I can remember of those 3 days was other senior recruits with no teeth lined up in 'holding companies'.
  • Some memories from RTC Great Lakes.Arrived by train from Harrisburg PA 8/3/61 graduated 9 weeks later.I remember singing the Navy Hymn at 2400 hrs on the grinder as a company,The obstacle course where the smallest guy was flipped off the rope into the mud pit when the largest guy was smacked on the butt and jumped on the ropeTaking down laundry at night in a sleet storm wearing swim trunks before general inspection. 
  • Got this in my E-mail thought I would pass it on.


    Subject: Great Lakes Centennial

    FYI & pass it on....... Thanks.....

    On June 14, 2011, over 3,000 Sailors will form up on historic Ross Field in the shape of a “100” to pose for a photograph in order to celebrate the Centennial of Naval Station Great Lakes.

    If you are a current, former or retired American Sailor who served honorably in any capacity at Naval Station Great Lakes, you are invited by the commanding officer of Naval Station Great Lakes to play a part in this historic photograph.

    Participants will assemble in the Visitors Center parking lot next to Naval Station’s main gate at 610 Farragut Ave., Great Lakes IL 60088 on or before 9 a.m., June 14, 2011. Uniform for Veterans: Summer white uniform, or an unadorned white dress shirt, dark slacks and appropriate cover (American Legion hat, ship’s ball cap, etc.).

    For veterans, by no later than 5 p.m. on May 20, 2011, email the following information to nsgl.pao@navy.mil, or fill out this form and fax it to 847-688-4945, or mail it to:

    NAVAL STATION GREAT LAKES
    PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
    2601E PAUL JONES ST
    GREAT LAKES IL 60088
    Name (LAST, FIRST, MI):

    When You Served in the United States Navy (DATE to DATE):

    When You Were Stationed at Great Lakes (DATE to DATE):

    Your Vehicle Information (Year, Make, Model, Plate Number/State):

    Please bring a copy of your DD-214 (discharge papers) and a state-issued ID card. If you do not have your DD-214, you can easily obtain one from the National Archives:
    http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/
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