Navy Boot Camp

There are limitations to what you can bring to boot camp. Once you graduate, you’ll be able to access the items you may have missed during the 10 weeks of training. Everything you bring that is not allowed will either be donated, discarded or mailed back home.

All recruits must bring:

• Social security card.
• Immunization records.
• Two forms of valid identification; speak to a recruiter for more information on qualifying identification needs.

Personal items you may bring include:

• The clothes you arrive in.
• Personal running shoes that must be tasteful in color and appearance while in uniform. Must have laces, no Velcro or speed lacing. All footwear is inspected upon arrival. You will be given shoes if yours do not meet RTC standards.
• One pair of prescription glasses or reading glasses. Recruits are not allowed to wear contacts.
• Maximum of $10 cash, a credit card (not required) and one pre-paid calling card ($20).
• Cell phone for first call. This will be collected after your first night.
• Completed direct deposit sign-up (Standard Form 1199A).
• Checkbook and/or ATM card.
• All prescription drugs with identifying labels. This includes any birth control.
• Pocket-sized religious reading material.

Female-specific personal items allowed:

• Makeup (makeup is only permitted for photographs and graduation liberty). No glass items, including mirrors, are permitted.
• A week’s worth of sanitary items (tampons, pads, menstrual cups), as required. More will be accessible if needed.
• All birth control medications (pills, patches, rings) may be continued as well as IUDs and sub-dermal implants (e.g. Nexplanon).
• Bring your most recent Pap smear laboratory report if it was performed within three years prior to arriving at RTC. Recruits over 21 who do not provide paperwork will be required to undergo a Pap smear examination once at boot camp.

Your physical training will be both rigorous and challenging and includes one-hour daily workouts, six days a week. To graduate, you must pass a Physical Readiness Test (PRT).

Before you can begin basic training, you must participate in a Physical Readiness Test and meet the following standards:

After boot camp, you’ll be sent to your first duty station or to A School, depending on what job you selected. A School is a program designed to train you for your specific role; each community in the Navy has its own A School. You’ll be placed with other new Sailors from your specific job and train alongside them with experts in your field. The time you spend at A School is determined by the job you have and is dependent on your success in the program. Once you graduate A School, you may complete additional training at C School or you may receive orders to report to your first duty station.

The best way to prepare for boot camp is to work with your recruiter to become physically and mentally ready to become a Sailor while you’re waiting to ship out. There are a few things you can do ahead of time to set yourself up for success.

1. Read the Bluejacket’s Manual: You’ll receive a copy of this book when you enlist as a Sailor. Reading it before leaving for boot camp will ensure you’re prepared for your journey in the Navy.
2. Learn the Navy rank structure: You will need to learn the chain of command at boot camp and be expected to recite it. Start learning about the Navy rank structure by reading the Bluejacket’s Manual.
3. Memorize the Navy’s core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment: Each of the Navy’s core values are important to how we operate. You must learn them and what they mean at boot camp. You can read more about them in the Bluejacket’s Manual.
4. Learn the 11 General Orders of a Sentry: You will be expected to learn and recite the general orders while you’re at boot camp. Refer to your Bluejacket’s Manual for more information.
5. Prepare yourself physically: Your recruiter should help you prepare to leave for boot camp by giving you information about how to train yourself to pass the physical readiness exam. Refer to the “physical requirements” accordion above to find out what is expected of every recruit.

No, you do not need to know how to swim when you arrive at boot camp; however, to graduate, every recruit must pass a swim test. If you need to learn, we will teach you how to swim in a basic swim class taught by highly qualified instructors to make sure you are comfortable in the water and that you’ll be able to graduate with the skills you need in the Fleet. Our instructors are certified experts in swim instruction, in-water rescue, lifeguarding and CPR.

Your training will ensure you can stay afloat without the use of a personal floatation device in open water. This includes swimming 50 yards and completing a five-minute prone float and clothing inflation. The final exam includes:

1. Jumping off a platform and swimming
2. Treading water
3. Flotation

You will live in a barracks called a "ship" and each is named after an important ship in naval history. Each state-of-the-art ship can house up to 1,300 recruits and contains multiple berthing areas, a galley and classrooms. Each climate-controlled ship is designed for maximum quality of life.

Your berthing compartment (sleeping quarters) houses your entire division. Male-female integrated divisions are housed in single-gender compartments but come together for training. It is where you sleep, shower, dress, iron your uniform and polish your shoes. It is also where your RDC instructs you on proper folding and stowing techniques, passes out vital information and hands out letters from home. You will be inspected, stand watch, PT and practice marching in this space. You will be responsible for cleaning every square inch of it (all 350,000 of them). This is your home for the next several weeks.