Recruit Training Command hosts Wisconsin educators

Photo By Lt. Michael Miller | GREAT LAKES, Ill., (July 23, 2015) - Rear Adm. Stephen C. Evans, commander, Naval Service Training Command, meets with Wisconsin middle and high school educators at Recruit Training Command (RTC), the Navy's only boot camp. The educators toured training facilities at RTC as part of an Educator Orientation Visit (EOV). EOVs allow selected educators to tour various Navy installations and commands in order to gain a better understanding of training methodologies and opportunities in the Navy. (U.S. Navy photo by Mike Miller/Released)  

GREAT LAKES, IL, UNITED STATES

07.24.2015

Courtesy Story

U.S. Navy           

By Michael F. Miller, Naval Service Training Command Public Affairs

GREAT LAKES, Ill. - Educators from Wisconsin visited Recruit Training Command (RTC) during two separate visits as part of an Educator Orientation Visit (EOV), July 9 and 23.

More than 50 educators from the Milwaukee and Madison areas of Wisconsin spent a day touring the Navy's only boot camp to see how today's Navy recruits train and live. They were welcomed by Rear Adm. Stephen C. Evans, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), who oversees RTC.

"I would like to thank each and every one of you for what you do every day," said Evans. "Without you providing the foundation for our youth and developing them through education, we wouldn't have a strong, professional Navy."

The educators are part of a graduate course through the Institute for Graduate Studies, offered through Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The graduate instructor and group leader, Juany Dahlen, has been bringing educators each summer to Naval Station Great Lakes since 2005.

"It is always great to visit RTC, and I am always so impressed every year my class makes this summer visit," said Dahlen. "My only question is where I can get an age waiver to enlist and serve this country."

The admiral thanked Dahlen and told the group that they already serve this country by what they do every day with today's youth.

EOVs allow selected educators to tour various Navy installations and commands in order to gain a better understanding of training methodologies and opportunities in the Navy.

While aboard RTC the educators visited one of the most distinctive structures, as well as the Navy's largest training simulator, USS Trayer (BST-21). The educators also toured the in-processing center, pool, fitness facility, marksmanship trainer, and one of the 13 recruit ships, or barracks. While inside the recruit barracks, they saw how each is set up like a ship, with galleys, classrooms, berthing compartments and offices.

The educators were also welcomed by Capt. Robert Fink, deputy commander, NSTC.

"It's wonderful that you have the opportunity to come here, as it helps to have that greater knowledge of the Navy when a high school student comes looking for advice on their future," said Fink.

RTC is primarily responsible for conducting the initial Navy orientation and training of new recruits. The command is commonly referred to as "boot camp" or "recruit training."

Boot camp is approximately eight weeks, and all enlistees into the United States Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes physical fitness, seamanship, firearms familiarization, firefighting and shipboard damage control, lessons in Navy heritage and core values, teamwork, and discipline. Since the closure of RTCs in Orlando and San Diego in 1994, RTC Great Lakes has been the Navy's only basic training location, and is known as "The Quarterdeck of the Navy." Today, approximately 38,000 recruits graduate annually from Navy boot camp.

RTC is overseen by Evans and his NSTC staff, headquartered in Building 1, the historic clock tower building on Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. NSTC oversees 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy. NSTC also includes the Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps at more than 160 colleges and universities; Officer Training Command Newport, Rhode Island; and Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.

For more news and information about RTC, visit: http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/ or find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/NavyRecruitTrainingCommand/

For more information about NSTC, visit http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/ or www.navy.mil/local/greatlakes/

• Date Taken: 07.24.2015
• Date Posted: 07.24.2015 16:58
• Story ID: 171059
• Location: GREAT LAKES, IL, US