The United States Navy’s basic training program, formally known as Recruit Training Command (RTC), is the singular point of entry for all enlisted Sailors. This rigorous course of instruction is officially eight weeks long, taking place exclusively at Naval Station Great Lakes in Illinois. The entire transformation process, from civilian arrival to graduation, often spans a total duration closer to nine weeks when factoring in the administrative and processing period that precedes the formal training curriculum.
The Standard Duration of Navy Basic Training
The instructional component of Navy Basic Training is a standardized eight-week program of instruction for all recruits. This period represents the time recruits are actively engaged in the curriculum, drills, physical training, and classroom instruction designed to instill fundamental military and maritime knowledge. The eight weeks of training are identical for every recruit division, ensuring a consistent baseline of professional capability across the fleet.
Initial Processing and Administrative Days (P-Days)
The total time recruits spend at Recruit Training Command is extended by the initial processing phase, commonly referred to as P-Days or Processing Days. This mandatory period typically lasts between five and nine calendar days, occurring immediately upon arrival before the official eight-week clock begins. During P-Days, the focus is on administrative, medical, and logistical requirements necessary for the recruit to begin training. Activities involve comprehensive medical and dental screenings, immunizations, haircuts, and the initial issue of uniforms and gear. Recruits are assigned to their divisions and meet their Recruit Division Commanders (RDCs). The P-Day period introduces recruits to the strict military routine, including basic watch standing duties and compartment cleanliness standards.
Breakdown of the Training Phases
Phase 1: Indoctrination and Basic Skills
The first three weeks of the formal curriculum focus on indoctrination and establishing military bearing. Recruits spend this time learning foundational naval concepts, including rank structure, customs and courtesies, and the proper wear and maintenance of their uniforms. Classroom learning introduces the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and naval history. The initial physical fitness standards are assessed, and all recruits must pass the Third Class Swim Qualification, which involves water survival techniques like the 50-yard swim and five-minute prone float.
Phase 2: Core Academics and Physical Fitness
Weeks four through six intensify the academic and physical requirements. Physical training advances to increase endurance and strength, preparing recruits for the final physical assessment. Recruits begin training in essential warfighting competencies such as basic seamanship, including line handling and watch standing procedures, often practiced on the landlocked training vessel, the USS Marlinespike. This phase also includes instruction in basic firefighting and damage control.
Phase 3: Advanced Training and Qualifications
The final two weeks emphasize the practical application and evaluation of all previously learned material. Recruits undergo personnel and material inspections that test their attention to detail and ability to maintain military standards. This period culminates in the Official Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA), which recruits must pass to be eligible for graduation. The training builds toward the final comprehensive examination, a 12-hour simulation that tests their teamwork and knowledge in a dynamic shipboard environment.
Battle Stations 21 and Graduation
The culmination of the basic training cycle is Battle Stations 21, a 12-hour capstone event held aboard the USS Trayer. This facility is a replica of a guided-missile destroyer, designed to simulate shipboard emergencies, including fires, floods, and mass casualty scenarios. Recruits must work as a team, applying everything they have learned in damage control, firefighting, and first aid. Passing Battle Stations 21 is the ultimate requirement for graduation and marks the moment a recruit officially earns the title of Sailor. The process concludes with the Pass-In-Review (PIR) ceremony, a formal military parade.
Transitioning Out of Recruit Training Command
Immediately following graduation, the new Sailors begin the transition into the next phase of their Navy careers. Most graduates proceed directly to “A School,” which is specialized technical training for their job rating. Sailors are required to travel to their A School location within a day of graduation, meaning there is generally no extended leave period between boot camp and advanced training. Sailors whose A School is located on Naval Station Great Lakes will check in almost immediately, while others will travel to schools located across the country.