Can anybody tell me anything about it. My son (who hasn't spoken to me in three years) left for it Monday. Nobody will give me any information. Where is it, how long is it? What happens after that?
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Navy boot camp
- Thread starter News Shooter
- Start date
It's tough mentally, but easy physically.
Lots of mind games, attention to detail stuff, book learning on little sleep.
The first ten days are the real tell. Make it past that and you're golden.
And "o" is not a number.
Lots of mind games, attention to detail stuff, book learning on little sleep.
The first ten days are the real tell. Make it past that and you're golden.
And "o" is not a number.
It's been about twenty years since I went through RTC Orlando so I'm not sure how much has changed, but if he keeps his head low, listens to his company commanders and generally doesn't act like an a**h***, he'll be fine.
Like Gonzo said, it's easy physically but challenging mentally. They try to get in your head on a lot of things. Once you realize it's a game, it's easy.
Like Gonzo said, it's easy physically but challenging mentally. They try to get in your head on a lot of things. Once you realize it's a game, it's easy.
Boot camp is quarantine, evaluation, and indoctrination. The boot is checked for diseases, attitudes, and aptitudes (if any.) Attempts are made to cure or correct the first two. Aptitudes, if present, are considered, along with the needs of the Navy, in order to plan for specialized skills training. Some attempts are made to instill notions about personal hygiene, shipmateliness, avoidance of death by roasting and drowning, and the benefits of doing What the Chief Says.
In any event, he's at large in the world now, and the likelihood has improved that the next time you see him he will be able to speak with you rather than to you.
.
stencil, aka etcs(ret)
In any event, he's at large in the world now, and the likelihood has improved that the next time you see him he will be able to speak with you rather than to you.
.
stencil, aka etcs(ret)
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![[laugh]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/012.gif "Laugh [laugh]")
PSS
NES Member
i was at great lakes in ill.summers are brutal and winters are worse.as long as you kid remembers it won't last forever and they won't kill him he will do fine.i think boot camp is up to 12 weeks i could be wrong.it's all about paying attention to detail
Thanks all, that helps me understand. I hope he will come out of this an adult.
![[grin]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/041.gif "Grin [grin]")
Rockrivr1
NES Member
Attended the fine Great Lakes establishment in 85. Went back and visited during a business trip to Chicago in 2002. Nothing had changed. Go figure.
Lets just say that his first couple of days are going to be some of the worst of his life. LOTS of getting yelled at, no shower for a couple days, wearing one set of cloths for a few days until you get your work blues and basic hell getting adjusted to your new military life. Like some have said, it's mostly mental to see who can handle it, take orders and do what is required. You'd be surprised how many people join and just can't handle it. One guy in my squad tried to jump through a plate glass window. The kind that have crossed wires in it. Gone!
Some say it's not physically challenging, but if someone isn't ready for the PT portion, then it can be challenging. Lots of marching, drilling with Garands as well as basic classes.
If he's a normal kid with some physical ability, he'll be fine!
Lets just say that his first couple of days are going to be some of the worst of his life. LOTS of getting yelled at, no shower for a couple days, wearing one set of cloths for a few days until you get your work blues and basic hell getting adjusted to your new military life. Like some have said, it's mostly mental to see who can handle it, take orders and do what is required. You'd be surprised how many people join and just can't handle it. One guy in my squad tried to jump through a plate glass window. The kind that have crossed wires in it. Gone!
Some say it's not physically challenging, but if someone isn't ready for the PT portion, then it can be challenging. Lots of marching, drilling with Garands as well as basic classes.
If he's a normal kid with some physical ability, he'll be fine!
I was at Great Lakes over 35 years ago and thinking back on it now it was not really that hard or bad but during the time I was there I could not help thinking what did I get myself into.
I actually ended up being in a special company. My company was Honor guards etc. our sister co. was flags if I remember correctly. It actually was easier because during service week we would be doing drills instead of working in the galley etc.
It is pretty easy physically but if you get yourself in trouble they will send you to do some drilling which if I remember correctly was called happy hour where you will spend an hour or more running while carrying an M1 back then, jumping, push ups etc.
He should do fine as long as he is commited to doing it.
I actually ended up being in a special company. My company was Honor guards etc. our sister co. was flags if I remember correctly. It actually was easier because during service week we would be doing drills instead of working in the galley etc.
It is pretty easy physically but if you get yourself in trouble they will send you to do some drilling which if I remember correctly was called happy hour where you will spend an hour or more running while carrying an M1 back then, jumping, push ups etc.
He should do fine as long as he is commited to doing it.
SemiAutoSam
Banned
I was at NTC San Diego 30 something years ago.
It was like summer camp but your ass is owned by uncle sam.
It was like summer camp but your ass is owned by uncle sam.
I was there in the Winter of 2002. I've experienced Chicago in both Winter and Summer, I'm glad I went to Great Mistakes in the Winter. Your son will be fine. Listening to the RDCs and never volunteering for anything are two of the keys to survival.
Rockrivr1
NES Member
Small world! I was in Flags. Great Special Company to be in. We got lucky and marched in 3 different parades. One through downtown Chicago and two others in Chicago suburbs. Fun!
Thanks all...it helps me know what is going on. My son is a totally fearless, brilliant and totally defiant kid. It will be interesting to see if he or the Navy folds first.
![[thinking]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/010.gif "Thinking [thinking]")
No, but I do remember doing dive bombers because some asshat fell asleep in the front of the compartment and didn't yell "attention on deck". I was coming out of the head when the RDC started yelling.
![[angry]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/008.gif "Angry [angry]")
yanici
NES Member
Thanks all...it helps me know what is going on. My son is a totally fearless, brilliant and totally defiant kid. It will be interesting to see if he or the Navy folds first.
I don't think that "defiance" trait will help him. He will need to learn to just "shut-up" and do what he's told to do. Pretty simple, really.
I went through the Lakes in the winter of '65. Kinda cold. Did my service week working in the Skullery(dish washing machine). Up at 3AM and running back to the barracks between meals hoping that they would light the smoking lamp, which they rarely did, the pricks. Then running back for the next meal all pissed because your dying for a smoke. That was the hardest part for me - the lack of smoking time.
Remember buying those cartons of cigarettes for $1/carton out at sea. No taxes out there.
So I'm trying to follow my son's progress on the internet and looked up the basic training curriculum at Great Lakes.
One thing caught my eye. The swimming requirement:
Recruits must be able to jump feet first into the water. Stay afloat for five minutes and swim 50 yards using any stroke.
My first reaction was "What???You've got to be kidding me!!
Then I started thinking about it and it makes complete sense.
If you're a sailor and in the water..SOMEBODY has screwed up big time.![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
One thing caught my eye. The swimming requirement:
Recruits must be able to jump feet first into the water. Stay afloat for five minutes and swim 50 yards using any stroke.
My first reaction was "What???You've got to be kidding me!!
Then I started thinking about it and it makes complete sense.
If you're a sailor and in the water..SOMEBODY has screwed up big time.
yanici
NES Member
So I'm trying to follow my son's progress on the internet and looked up the basic training curriculum at Great Lakes.
One thing caught my eye. The swimming requirement:
Recruits must be able to jump feet first into the water. Stay afloat for five minutes and swim 50 yards using any stroke.
My first reaction was "What???You've got to be kidding me!!
Then I started thinking about it and it makes complete sense.
If you're a sailor and in the water..SOMEBODY has screwed up big time.
Yep. Not as bad now though. We went to the pool, IIRC, 7 times. But, only had to pass two or three tests.
One class they had us pull off our dungaree pants and tie a knot in the end of each pant leg, flip it over your head to fill it with air, while treading water. The pants became a nice float to hold you up. Of course I sank while trying to tie the knot in the pants so I failed this class, but it wasn't one of the mandatory ones.
They won't let you out of boot 'til you pass your swim quals.
Well, my immediate reaction is that ANYONE could do that and why doesn't the Navy require more. As I said, then I started thinking about it and realized that jumping overboard and making it to a life raft is about all a sailor would have to do. It's funny how you have stereotypical impressions of what things are until you think about it.
I'm not worried about Tim, He was was of those YMCA baby swimmers and was doing laps by the time he was three.
Rockrivr1
NES Member
You would be surprised at how many people join the Navy and don't know how to swim. Makes no sense to me. To me swimming ability should be a pre-requisite to join. In my company we had 5 people who couldn't swim. They had to take swimming lessons every night until they could pass. Luckily for them, they all passed.
We had quite a few who couldnt swim. Many kids who join that dont know how to swim come from the city and never been in water much deeper than a bath tub. Heck for some boot camp was thier first time ever leaving the city they grew up in.
The best part was how before the initial qual, when they explained what was required and how to do it, they asked if anybody couldn't swim. No one raised their hand or spoke up. We get up on the platform, jump the 20 or so feet into the water, and sure enough, we had a handful of guys just sink right to the bottom and stay there. The instructors had a field day on those guys after they fished 'em out.
boot
mine was in jan in New port RI.on the bay.I made it and ord school in Memphis.train rolled over in some small town in kayantucy.beaver creek if I remember.shipped out of Norfolk VA after almost getting killed in a massive explosion.a string of trailers were carrying depth charges caucht fire and blew. the fire truck and crew were never found but pieces were found miles away.luckly it happened at chow noon as the wave barracks was flattened.
took a ship to Porto Rica.did you know a corvete can go under a wave and still stay afloat.our escort did that all the time.I flew out of Trinadad for next two yrs.along the SA coast to near africa and back.
mine was in jan in New port RI.on the bay.I made it and ord school in Memphis.train rolled over in some small town in kayantucy.beaver creek if I remember.shipped out of Norfolk VA after almost getting killed in a massive explosion.a string of trailers were carrying depth charges caucht fire and blew. the fire truck and crew were never found but pieces were found miles away.luckly it happened at chow noon as the wave barracks was flattened.
took a ship to Porto Rica.did you know a corvete can go under a wave and still stay afloat.our escort did that all the time.I flew out of Trinadad for next two yrs.along the SA coast to near africa and back.
