Navy boot camp consists of nine weeks at RTC Great Lakes covering processing, seamanship, firefighting, weapons, swim qualification, PRT, and Battle Stations-21.
Nervous about day one? Here’s a clear view of what you’ll face at Recruit Training Command (RTC) in Great Lakes. We’ll walk through the timeline, daily life, tests, and the capstone that turns recruits into Sailors.
What Does Navy Boot Camp Consist Of? The Core Blocks
At a glance, navy boot camp consists of processing, nine training weeks, and graduation. You’ll live in a barracks, train as a division, and move from classroom work to hands-on skills. The program blends seamanship, discipline, water survival, damage control, weapons, and fitness.
Quick Week-By-Week Overview
The schedule below shows the flow from arrival to the final tests. It lines up with the official outline used at RTC Great Lakes.
| Phase/Week | Training Focus | Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| P-Days | In-processing | Phone call home, admin, medical/dental, haircuts, uniforms, initial fitness event |
| Week 1 | Water survival, core values | Third-Class Swim Qualification (50-yard swim, 5-minute float, clothing inflation), classes begin |
| Week 2 | Navy knowledge | Ships & aircraft, UCMJ, first aid, inspections, dress uniform issue, knowledge test |
| Week 3 | Seamanship | USS Marlinespike line handling, watch standing, man overboard drill; observe a graduation |
| Week 4 | Damage control | Firefighting basics, CBRNE lab & confidence chamber; RDC PFA assessment (planks, push-ups, 1.5-mile run) |
| Week 5 | Weapons | Small-arms trainer, marksmanship fundamentals, live-fire safety |
| Week 6 | Applied damage control | Hands-on fire team training, inspections, knowledge test II |
| Week 7 | Evaluations & resilience | Final personnel inspection, firefighting assessment, Warrior Toughness capstone |
| Week 8 | Capstone events | Official PFA and Battle Stations-21 aboard USS Trayer (12-hour scenarios) |
| Week 9 | Junior Sailor & graduation | Leadership classes, liberty brief, Pass-in-Review |
Arrival And Processing (P-Days)
Once you step off the bus, structure kicks in fast. You’ll turn in your phone after a quick call, receive uniforms, complete medical and dental checks, and get your first taste of drill and classes. Expect tight timelines and lots of movement between stations. The goal is simple: get you ready to train as a team.
Water Survival And Swim Qualification
Early in training, every recruit works through the Third-Class Swim Qualification. The standard includes a 50-yard swim, a five-minute float, and clothing inflation. If you need help, instructors teach in a controlled pool environment, and extra time is available for those who need it. Passing this event is required to graduate.
What Does Navy Boot Camp Consist Of? Week-By-Week Details
Weeks 1–3: Foundation And Seamanship
Weeks one through three stack the basics. You’ll learn naval history, rank and rate, customs, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Seamanship practice on the USS Marlinespike builds line handling and watch standing. You’ll also see a Pass-in-Review to picture your own graduation.
Weeks 4–6: Damage Control And Weapons
The middle block shifts to hands-on skills. You’ll suit up for fire behavior, breathing gear, and the confidence chamber. Your Recruit Division Commander runs a physical fitness check to show where you stand on planks, push-ups, and the run. Weapons week adds the small-arms trainer, safe handling, and marksmanship fundamentals before any live-fire work.
Weeks 7–8: Assessments And Battle Stations-21
Late in training, events tighten. You’ll complete final inspections and a firefighting assessment. Then comes the capstone: the official Physical Fitness Assessment and Battle Stations-21 on the USS Trayer, a full-scale ship simulator. You and your division handle damage control, watch bills, and emergency drills through a long, stressful night. Finish strong and you’ll earn the title Sailor.
Fitness Requirements: PFA, PRT, And Daily PT
Daily workouts prep you for the official assessment. The Navy Physical Readiness Test uses three events: cadence push-ups, a forearm plank, and a 1.5-mile run. Alternate cardio options exist in the fleet, but recruits should plan on running at boot camp. Scoring falls into bands; you pass by reaching at least a probationary or better category when the command records the results.
Two checkpoints matter during training. In week four, your RDC runs a progress assessment to show gaps. In week eight, the official PFA locks in graduation eligibility. Build smart: steady running, core work for the plank, and push-up form under cadence.
Daily Life: Chow, Berthing, And Marching
Recruits live on a “ship” (the barracks). You’ll stand watch, square away your rack, and move everywhere as a unit. The galley serves three meals a day with time limits. You’ll learn to manage your gear, clean on a schedule, and keep dress and grooming within the standards. Expect inspections that check uniforms, bearing, knowledge, and the state of your space.
Safety, Standards, And Discipline
Everything has a standard, from hydration at PT to how you carry a weapon on the line. Your instructors teach procedures, and training areas run with safety staff on deck. The program also reinforces Navy core values—Honor, Courage, Commitment—through classes, drill, and daily expectations.
Core Assessments And Pass Criteria
The table below condenses the events that define graduation. It also points to what each event checks and what you must do to move on.
| Assessment | What It Checks | Pass Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Third-Class Swim | Water survival | 50-yard swim, 5-minute float, clothing inflation |
| PFA / PRT | Strength & endurance | Push-ups, forearm plank, 1.5-mile run; pass at probationary or better |
| Firefighting Assessment | Damage control skills | CBRNE tasks, hose handling, team coordination |
| Weapons Safety & Qual | Marksmanship basics | Complete course with safe handling and required scores |
| Personnel Inspections | Uniforms & bearing | Meet dress standards; demonstrate military bearing and knowledge |
| Knowledge Tests | Navy facts & procedures | Pass classroom exams across the cycle |
| Battle Stations-21 | Applied shipboard readiness | Complete 12-hour scenario series aboard USS Trayer |
How Long Is Navy Boot Camp?
Plan for nine weeks at Great Lakes once training starts, plus the short processing period before week one. The timeline includes P-Days, weeks one through nine, and the Pass-in-Review ceremony. From start to finish you’ll live the schedule and move with your division every hour of the day.
What To Bring, What To Leave
Keep it light. Bring two IDs, your Social Security card, and basic items like prescription glasses and running shoes. Cash needs are minimal. Contacts aren’t allowed. The staff issues uniforms and ships home or donates anything that doesn’t fit the list.
Discipline And Inspections—What Gets Checked
Inspections look at more than threads and lint. RDCs and staff check how you carry yourself, how you speak, and how you respond under pressure. They listen for clear answers on ranks, chain of command, general orders, and safety steps. They scan your rack, locker, and common spaces. Points stack up fast when a division moves as one, calls cadence with energy, and keeps a calm tone with staff.
Sample Day: What Your Schedule Feels Like
Wake-up comes early. You’ll clean your space, line up for chow, and move to morning PT. After that, it’s a full slate of classes or hands-on blocks—seamanship on the trainer, firefighting gear drills, or weapons safety. March to chow again, then more training. Evenings bring study time, uniform prep, and watch. Lights out is firm. That rhythm builds the teamwork you’ll need at sea.
Gear Issue And Uniforms
RTC issues your working uniforms, PT gear, dress uniforms, and basic items like toiletries. You’ll learn how to mark gear, fold and stow it, and keep each set inspection-ready. Personal running shoes are allowed if they meet color and style rules; if not, you’ll get a pair that does. Keep any keepsakes small and within the rules, since storage space is tight.
Common Mistakes That Slow A Division
- Trying to shine solo. The division moves faster when shipmates help each other prep uniforms and study.
- Skipping small tasks. Missed dust, poor posture, or a sloppy rack costs points and time.
- Guessing on procedures. Ask early and lock in each step, from watch turnover to weapons clearing.
- Under-training the plank. Core endurance affects drill, firefighting suits, and the run.
Bottom Line: What You’ll Do Each Day
Wake up early, train, clean, learn, and repeat. March to class, work in the pool or the trainer, and build reps in the gym. Stay squared away in the barracks, study during personal time, and help your shipmates. Do that well and you’ll move through each gate on time.
For deeper detail on the program outline and the official fitness test, read the Navy boot camp page and the Physical Readiness Test guide. Both explain standards and the sequence used across the Fleet.
If you searched “what does navy boot camp consist of?” because you want a simple, accurate view, use the two tables above as your checklist. If you’re already shipping, repeat “what does navy boot camp consist of?” and walk yourself through each block until the steps feel automatic.