Your first day of boot camp was the best day of your life?????????????????? I can honestly say it was one of the worst...great lakes, 1979.....they puT all of us into one huge room, probably 500 guys, Idiots were arguing whose city was the best ALL NIGHT LONG!!!! Mostly Baltimore and Philadelphia.
@@gtc1961 Great lakes was a bit more primitive, from what I understand. Doing pushups on asphalt in Orlando when it is 90 degrees outside wasn't very pleasant, though.
@@garyh4458 When i went to Great Lakes in 79, I seriously don't think it had changed a bit in 60 years. I looked at google map photos of it now and it's unrecognizable so they must've upgraded it. I went in July and August...it was freaking HOT there too!
Arrived there in December of 1990 and was in Company 073. Graduated then went to "A" school there right after leave. Made friends with some classmates and hung out in La Jolla on the weekends. Met a pretty young gal there, and made lots of great memories. There has never been nor will there ever be another time like that in our lives. Hold onto those memories, gentlemen! Fair winds and following seas.
I got there in December of 1990 also, but I was in 057, are you sure your that’s the right company number? I often wonder what all the guys are doing now, most if not all are probably retired. I just retired, but I transferred to the Army in 1995. I’m saving this video. This has to be sometime in 1991 I’m guessing
Arrrived at NTC San Diego on November 05 1980 on greyhound bus at midnight and government picked me up in downtown San Diego bus depot. I ended up with R/O outfit group for a few days then formed Company 948 with MM1 Healy and glad it was a band/flag/specialty company; no KP duty. Best time of my life as a young man from that point onward. I ended up going to "A" school in Chanute AFB in Illinois from Jan - Apr 1981 as an Aerographer's mate. Did 20 years in the Navy.
I was '79. Came out as a CT. I think our bootcamp was tougher than they have now a days. I remember the DI yelling at us when picking us up on the bus. I remember bunks being flipped. I remember they'd "thump" you if f'd up. I remember one guy running around the company , yelling "I'm a sheet bird, I'm a sheet bird, watch me fly" for messing up a corner on his bunk. I was doing push ups, I couldn't help it, I busted up. hahahaha
This is my old Navy Bootcamp video, my VHS copy got eaten by my VCR years ago. It's nice to see this online, now I can show it to my children. I went through bootcamp shortly after this video was produced, some of the same CC's and Officers were still in charge during my experience. That was September and October of 1992. Company 125. BTC (SW) Morales and ENC (SW) Dioquino were awesome CC’s. I wish I could bump into them today just to say hello.
I figured this was around 1990. Thanks for posting and posting it was 1992. I was there in March of 1986 ( Co 057). Saw a couple of differences. We weren't issued the Blue sweats. Maybe that's a seasonal thing. Also we carried rifles as part of marching and graduation ceremonies. I hated it weeks one and two. Mostly just home sickness and nicotine withdrawal, lol. No smoke, just Coke! ( for 3 weeks). Then as things became routine, it became easy. By the final week, I was glad to be graduating but also sad to see it end so soon as well. A few of the guys went to the same A School. A couple of those I saw again in the fleet. And one of them, who I met at MEPS, I got in touch with again via FB 30 years later.
My Navy boot camp was in Orlando in 1970. At the time, I thought it was the hardest 11 weeks I ever experienced. However, I later learned that it was a walk in the park as compared to 3 years in the after engine room of the USS Lexington (CVT-16). Those 4 years absolutely turned a boy into a man.
LOL I hear you. I also went to Orlando for bootcamp and spent 4 yrs in an engine room on CGN-25. Boot camp was more intense but life at sea on a ship is worse because it goes on forever.
Our driver said, "You guys still got a chance when the Judge asked you, Prison dungarees or Navy dungarees? After here, you don't get just a few years sentence, you're going to War next! Welcome to Hell gates for you, too late to cry for the Judge to change your destination. And prison guards here are worse morons, Jarheads!" He didn't just said, "you guys F..up" He delighted to spell each cause and effect to come, and that minimal Vaseline will not be provided, *******BOHICA Time!
I went through Boot Camp at RTC Orlando from July to September 1988. I was 18 years old and, I had just graduated from high school 1 month and 8 days prior. To say that it was a culture shock is a grand understatement. However, the raw memory of those long, hot, scary days always brings a tear to my eyes. Those CC's (Recruit Company Commanders) literally made me into a man. After graduation, I served my enlistment as a Boatswain's Mate in the Amphibious Navy (USS Hermitage (LSD-34) out of NAB Little Creek, VA). I got out after several cruises and a Desert Shield/Desert Storm deployment. And then, five years after Navy Boot Camp, I would find myself in Army Basic Training (Feb through April 1993) at Ft Jackson, SC... going through a different version of the same pain. That experience made me into an even better man. I am in my 50's now and I have a great life but, with nostalgia and pride, I can truly say that it all started long ago on a hot, humid and terrifying night at RTC Orlando.
an old friend of mine went through the same thing the opposite way, went into the Army served two tours in Iraq, left the Army, reenlisted in the Navy after about a year, again, going through Navy Boot Camp, then doing 3 or 4 more years in the Navy.
I was there right after you. I started boot camp January 89’. Did 6 years, most of that on the Kitty Hawk CV-63 out of San Diego. From what I hear, the navy has changed too much in the last few years.
1992, looks as if this was done towards the end of the base's life. Went there in 1981. A hot summer, lots of long nights. These scenes are from a time long gone.
@@Christracey889my service week I was breaking down barracks and racks. Was in the last female company to graduate in 1994. All I know is it was august and it was HOT!!
I arrived there for training in June of 1986 from New York City. I will never forget. Watching this made me shed a few tears. How I miss my youth. I hope that everyone is doing okay today. Thank you so much for sharing this.
Same here. Arrived June 1986. Company 137, Division 7. CC's were PO Bickler & Wertz... Marching over the Bridge every day & the smells to the Galley is in mind every day. Great memories☺
Yo, you were in the same ship out day as my uncle in June of 86, a month after he graduated high school he was 17 like me, I am also myself gonna Enlist, class of 2022.
I went through there in Sep 1968. This brought back so many memories. I went from a boy to a man in 9 weeks and learned a lot as well as making life long friends.
Jim Howell company 348, August 1968. Definitely a time to remember I do not remember it being quite that lavish in our barracks and our clothing was quite different. Six or eight weeks at camp Nimitz and then across the bridge to the second world war barracks.
USNTC/RTC May - July 68 Co 321 CC SF1 Dishmon and SSC, SD "A" School July - August 68, USN, AK1 retired May 1989. Federal Service, VA/DEA retired,, July 91 - Nov 2015
@@jimhowell1750 think it'd be possible to hear an indepth explanation? I'm going to air force bootcamp in a few months but never got to hear about my grandfather's navel bootcamp experience before he passed away. (Although his was 1958) but still wanted to hear all the good and bad. Hazing included lmao
I was there June 86 - Aug 86 for boot camp, then I switched over to NTC for seaman apprentice training from Aug 86 - Sep 86. Back then, "It wasn't just a job, it was an adventure!!" Which turned out to be true!! I had a 20 year adventure!!!
Thank for your service to this great nation. Dad was a Sailor too, I wanted to follow in his footsteps but failed the physical due to severe asthma and blindness in the right eye. I know I missed out on something great; being a UNITED STATES NAVY SAILOR.
In 1964 - 1965 RTC SAN DIEGO NAVY BOOT CAMP we had to wash all of our own cloths on concrete slabs with a bucket of water, soap & a scrub brush then hang them up using knots on the clothesline outside of our barracks. Even when it was raining. We wore work boots, no tennis shoes were issued back then.
I had the same experience in early 1971 there at NTC San Diego. What a cryin' shame they closed that one and Orlando down in favor of Great Lakes! smh...
Company 123, March 26, 1990. BMC Tanksley, MMC Ferrer, and BTC Parks. Good times, getting mashed in front of the barracks in a heavy rain storm…..getting mashed all the time, even in dress blues on picture day. Loved every minute of it!
thanks for posting this.this was way before my time but when i was training at NTC for fire training i couldnt help but to walk around and wonder about all the memories shared in those buildings.
@@72floyd that was for you Gas station attendants. We had working blues or white jumpers, with sleeves already off cuffs _no need to roll them up, already issued to work. We were clothed like SEAMEN not like seabees in jungle fatigues or chain-gang prisoners. Looking NAVY, no army or air force uniforms
What a cool video! Brings back memories of my boot camp days (Sept. 86) the only difference was that we had the boondockers glued to our feet except for P.T. Thank you for sharing this 🇺🇸🇺🇸👍🏼🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thanks for posting, definatley brought back memories. I went through there the summer of 86'. Was down in San Diego last month for my daughters wedding, took my nephew back there, not much of the old RTC left. The old 1930's buildings in the front of the base is a hippster shopping and restraunt area now. The USS Recruit is still there but all the barraks, grinder, chow hall and classroom buildings are all gone. Even Nimitz brigde is changed, no longer wood now cement and steal! Remember having to march out of step going over the old wooden one because they said it would collapse if we didn't. Not sure now how true that was. Anyway thanks again for the trip down memory lane.
Graduated, Oct. 1989 Co. 259 CC's were BM2 Parquet & MMC Mulzac. Went on to AO "A" School in Millington, TN, then on to USS Saratoga CV-60 during Desert Storm. What a ride!!
San Diego RTC I was there october 1976, Bootcamp was 12 weeks long and 1 week working in the chow hall from 05:00 to 22:00 everyday for 7 full days.Marched everyday on the GRINDER with those ancient wood stock M1A Rifles, after a few hours they got real heavy..I still miss the NAVY, wish i could go back..COMPANY 186 AD2/AIRCREW
Please read and respond : I was in Aircrew in Pensacola('03). Supposed to be AD also. Got injured and kicked out. Graduated NACCS . But, didn't go to AD training. My mile swim was 72 min. How hard was it back then? Also. I hear you used to have an obstacle course everybody DOR on.
Great video. As a recruit you did not realize how much the chiefs, and first class PO's, cared for everyone's success. They put in hours to allow the recruits to succeed. Still remember a recruit that told the CC 'I ain't doing any more pushups', shore patrol took him away. Play the game and you succeeded. Thank you Chief Lynch. Company 171, 1982.
Lee Coffman USNTC San Diego company 826 Oct 1952---Jan 1953. Wow what great memories ! We were issued Springfield 1906 riffles and had to carry them every day, and we had to wear canvas leggings every day. Our Company Commander Chief Graham drove us hard but we won every award including whaleboat champions and we were awarded first in the chow line. Great times and wonderful memories !
It was great to see these scenes from RTC San Diego. I was there from Sep to Dec of 1966 - Company 559. I had a chance to visit RTC one more time in 1990 before they closed. I still think San Diego was the best place to have boot camp - it was a great experience in many ways.
@@bb38313 I was in Great Lakes in February 1968 and was surprised they said you 8 people are going to Great Lakes from the Denver Co. induction center. I was glad it worked out that way since we were all of the time bundled up in blues, pea coats and watch caps making the inspections easier. Many fellow sailors at my first assignment said they be damn glad you didn't have to scrub whites and stand personnel inspections outside with flies landing on you and you can't even move let alone smack them jus to name a few of the the things you don't have to deal with doing it in the winter time at Great Lakes.
A lot different than my basic 1970. Our basic was 12 weeks and we had different PT events. However, I still remember that Friday graduation; my dad and brother were there and yes, I was proud as hell. Some Chief from another company came up to my dad and told him what a great sailor I was and how proud of me he was. Not even my Company Commander.
This is a great video, I was at RTC San Diego in 1983 and my company number was 162, Lots of memories of the flint guns for the shots, R & O, the barracks, dining facilities, class, the USS Recruit etc, Thanks for taking me down memory lane.
Went in October 1966. I stayed an extra month so I could play drums for the drum ,& bugle corps. I am so glad for this post. Brought back a lot of memories. Thank you!
This is really great to see. It brought back A LOT of things I havent thought of. I got there Sept 93. I was in the last of the last before they closed it. I am glad that I got to go before bootcamp changed.
I went through Boot Camp at NTC, San Diego in 1951 Co. 777. 68 years ago and retired in1975. I remember Camp Elliot well for the first 3 weeks then to NTC. AH, those were the days, sweet memories, never forgotten. Joseph G. Huerta, USN (RET)
Definitely brought back Some memories for Sure as I Graduated from there in 1984 , Got Held back for a week as I Injured my Right Knee on a Run . Sucked quite Bad But I finished it. It was true what the Chief said, We had accomplished something that Few American Men and Women ever had . We had because become Sailors in the United States Navy.
I went to boot in Great Lakes in 1969 and many things were different. I basically enjoyed it all and still do many things the "Navy way". It was the best thing that ever happened to me besides meeting my wife of 46 years.
U.S Navy 8 year Veteran 2007-2015 2 Deployments & 5 Countries‼️ The Navy has changed Dramatically since those days except Bootcamp is still 9 weeks 🇺🇸 😎‼️
I did my boots at Great Lakes January 1999. Company 109 with Chief Logan. Great memories. It's great to read all of this comments from shipmates who have gone through this amazing experience at various times throughout the last 70 years.
I went to great lakes in 93. My first company was company 109. But I got asmoed after the first test and got set back a week to company 116 Where I graduated from
I thought it be very cool to look back at the At the Navy bootcamp back in the day because I ship Mar11th Plus just looking at this is definitely giving me a. Motivation
Company 131 RTC San Diego. June 85. Always remember the shots had a big square needle. Lol. Such a shame to only see the USS Recruit only left standing in a shopping center parking lot.
I went there in 15 June 1990, company#167. Best time of my life this video brought back lots of memories. We were color company , ironman company our cc'd were senior chief Hammond, senior chief Sorrel and BM1 Bentley.
Great memories! CO 048 Nov88 - May88 Did my "A" school there to right down the road from RTC Radioman "A" school! Greatest mistake i ever made was getting out after 4 years. I have regretted it ever since. Proud to have severed proud to be a sailor on board the USS John F. Kennedy CV-67.
I was at Great Lakes bootcamp from July 1989 through sept, then went across the street to the GM "A" school. All combined I was in Great Lakes for just shy of a year. Just like you I regret not doing things a little differently and at the very least stayed in a little longer. Right now as I type this my daughter is in Great lakes bootcamp as she's half way done with a graduation date of May 8th, sadly I don't think we will be able to attend her graduation. Her twin brother is waiting for the word from his recruiter and he will soon be joining his sister out there, but with everything going on in the world he's in a temporary hold right now wasting his time at home. Looks like he'll be leaving in the next two to three weeks. I instructed my kids what NOT to do during their Navy service and the benefits of taking advantage of the options available to them while in service. Most importantly keep your head screwed on straight and DON'T get into the party drinking scene. Sadly it's so easy to do, but I trust my kids.
When I got my orders out of bootcamp, I almost died when I saw CVN-65. Was always a big Star Trek fan, and everyone I knew couldn't believe it, as well. 4 years on the USS Enterprise. I got out in '86, and I remember it like it was yesterday. Thanks for your service, shipmate.
We were there about the same time together. Company 050 NOV88-JAN89. Went back for the first time a few years ago with my wife and son. Most of the base is part of the neighborhood now. USS Neversail is still there. Walked the bridge across the canal that went to R&O/medical. Stopped halfway across to look around. Told my wife that was the first time I was able to do that since we weren’t allowed to stop on it way back when. Definitely brought back a lot of memories.
RTC San Diego March - May 1991, Company 130. Company Commanders ABM MC Rabarra and BM2 Corpuz. Remember Chief Bell, he attempted to infiltrate our barracks one night while I was on quarterdeck watch...good times! I REALLY remember the female corpsman giving shots at R&O, she was Hawaiian if I recall. Hard to believe it was 30 Years ago!
HAAAAAAA! I was in company 024 with petty officer FRYE & Chief Marquez. I left in mid January '93..... Remember the steak & lobster meal in galley 5 on new years '93?...
I went to RTC, Great Lakes NTC from October 1970-Feb 1971, the coldest months to go through boot camp. We had a longer boot training 13 weeks, but we go to go home for a week during Christmas, which was a surprise to us, and our families. Many of the things in this film were nearly the same, but we didn't get to the the big fires in our fire training, and we didn't go to any indoor shooting range to fire our pistols. We were taught how to disassemble and assemble them and in a timely manner. We did get two 12 hour liberty days, on one I went to Chicago, by train, and the other I went to Milwaukee, by train. No one deserted, and we didn't lose anyone to too much alcohol. I recall that we had an open barracks with lockers between, and don't recall the tight inspections that were portrayed in this film, but we did get inspected on our laundry lines, and other things. Some great memories I still carry with me from those weeks in Great Lakes. If I did it again, I would rather go to San Diego, or Orlando, FL (I think that is where the other RTC's were when I went in. I am proud to have served in the world's best Navy. I was discharged in 1974 as YN2. Great experience and great memories.
Doug, I was there about the same time! Once I graduated, I went through seamanship training for 3 weeks, I'll ALWAYS remember the beer machines!!!!! LOL 😂
The Great Lakes had more follow on A Schools and better facilities. But I always thought that the sunny weather in SD made for a better bootcamp. But there is no doubt that Great Lakes was a tougher place to be. The bootcamp there nowadays is much more focused on shipboard stuff in the training.
Company 025 started April 20, 1992- Graduated June 22, 1992. I loved San Diego & time spent at RTC. We had a great crew. Very few failures. We got there after the last base renovation and before base closure!
Company 038. Oct 1988 to January 1989. I remember the marching on the bridge from barracks to chow. Our rlpo got busted for selling phone chits from CC office 😂 great days
Did my basic in nov. 86’ Orlando, Fl. Heard about the bridge at San Diego from guys at A school. Video brought back some memories for sure. Glad I watched 👍
Was there August 1994-October 1994 was in the last female company to graduate. I was supposed to go to Great Lakes but it was changed on me at the airport! Glad I got to be a part of history..
I arrived in San Diego in August, 1969. Company 584. My Company Commander was Chief Gibson. This video sure brought back memories. I still have the key to my locker from the barracks. When I was there, guys training to be Seals were there. They started in UDT I believe. Most of the guys in my company were from the Midwest and West Coast. I remember playing shuffleboard on the washracks and having to hang our laundry up on lines and tie them with square knots. I heard recruits don't even wash their clothes anymore!
Surreal when u realize most of these 'kids' have long since retired if they stayed in long enough. My dad went through here in the mid 80s, I went through rtc great lakes in Apr 2011
OMG! That’s my old company commander ‘Bell’ but back then he was just first class, I graduated in March 1989 but cannot for the life of me remember my company number, getting old 😳 thanks for the video and thanks for the great memories, made my day! NAVY RULES! 😉 (GMG2)
I was there in June 1989 company 193 I remember Bell also, we failed our first inspection and were called a bug company but after that we won every event in sports day except basketball and that was a close one. We won best at graduation and all the other awards. Senior chief (diver down) Dively and MM1 Dimalanta were our CC's
Ortiz, I think we graduated together with Co. 126. I went out the front gate and down the street to "Sea World" (that's what they called the blue buildings at Anti Submarine Warfare) A school and Ops before heading to Mayport Fl. DD 963 'THE' USS Spruance! STG3.
Went to RTC San DIego in 1991 Co. 198. This looks like it was filmed right around that time. Really cool to see how it looked when I did it. Great video!
Brought back a lot of memories. I arrived 22 Oct 1985, was assigned to drill team 945, graduated 20 Dec, D-day was 24 Dec. Seeing those individual squares in the tile floor of R&O brought back so much of the feeling of that first day. "Sit on that goddamn square right there and do not move!" They isolated those of us destined for drill right there, still had my mullet! I actually saw one guy stand up when they asked if anyone wouldn't pass the piss test. Never saw him again. I was 17 and by the end of December I was at least 36. Still looking for anyone from company 945 from 1985.
I was in an all Kansas company, RTC San Diego, Feb. 1 - 2nd week in April, 1961. Lots of memories watching this. Can't believe my 75 yr old mind can remember so much about recruit training. At least I still have a mind!
think it'd be possible to hear an indepth explanation? I'm going to air force bootcamp in a few months but never got to hear about my grandfather's navel bootcamp experience before he passed away. (Although his was 1958) but still wanted to hear all the good and bad. Hazing included lmao
Company 059-61, RTC San Diego. Went on to a 23 year career cut somewhat short by heart surgery (successful obviously) but it screwed up my career path and I retired early as a Senior Chief.
Damn! Was it standard practice back in the day for every division to get a video of their training?? I was at boot camp in 2005 and we never got a goddamn video! I'm envious.
8:11 Even though I went through USMC training, I have a lot of respect the for the Navy. The CPO on my time stamp would help a lot of Marines get through their training, knowing what they are doing. After watching this video, I'm amazed at the positive motivation given to these recruits. Physically the Marine Corps is more difficult, and the Marines are always putting down the Navy... After seeing this video, I can't put down the Navy. I've always respected all branches of the military, but this video shows the Navy is one of the best as are all military armed services.
Boot camp San Diego 1959 , made Color Guard and missed a lot of PT. Made E5 on USSCatamount LSD17. Vietnam 1962 up the Saigon river, what an Adventure.