Ensign Andrew Valencia, a Purple Heart recipient, former United States Marine, and graduate of Officer Candidate School (OCS), Class 04-25, at Officer Training Command Newport, reflects upon his time at OCS and what it means in volunteering to become a part of the world's greatest Navy.
The Purple Heart is the oldest active military award in the United States and was introduced August 7, 1782 by General George Washington as a military badge of merit. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the Purple Heart to be presented to all military services.
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Rear Adm. Craig T. Mattingly was relieved by Rear Adm. Matthew T. Pottenburgh as commander of Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) during a combined Recruit Training Command (RTC) Graduation and change of command ceremony held April 03,2025 at Naval Station Great Lakes.
The U.S. Navy has announced an optimization of its Basic Military Training (BMT) program, reducing the training schedule from 10 weeks to nine weeks effective January 2025. This transition supports the Chief of Naval Operationsβ (CNO) Navigation Plan 2024, emphasizing fleet readiness, training efficiency, and the preparation of mission-ready Sailors.
