One month from today, Blake leaves for Chicago where he'll be until the end of December.  My guess (Cyndi can correct me if I'm wrong) is that he'll be at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. It's the command within the United States Navy primarily responsible for conducting the initial orientation and training of new recruits. It commonly is referred to as boot camp, or recruit training, and is approximately eight weeks long. All enlistees into the United States Navy begin their careers at the command. Upon successful completion of basic training, qualifying sailors are sent to various apprenticeship, or "A schools", located across the United States where they begin training in their occupational speciality, or ratings. Those who have not yet received a specific rating, enter the fleet with a general designation of airman, fireman, or seaman.

 

Training Timeline

Processing Week

Navy Recruits begin their journey at Building 1405, Golden Thirteen, the Recruit In-processing Center in Camp Moffett. Recruits arrive at all hours, but mostly during the night. Before formal training can begin at Recruit Training Command, Recruits are screened medically, dentally, and administratively. They receive a thorough round of inoculations, an initial issue of uniforms, and their first military haircut. They are taught basic grooming standards, the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), standards of conduct, and are introduced to their Recruit Division Commander.

This first week of training called P-Days (processing days) lasts for approximately five days, but can run a little longer depending on weekends, holidays, and the schedule of arriving Recruits. During P-days, Recruits will be taught the basics of watch standing, they will be given information to memorize, and they will begin learning to organize their gear. P-Days conclude with a commissioning ceremony, led by the Recruit's Group Commander (Ship's Officer) in which their division receives its guidon (divisional flag displaying division number). This ceremony marks the official start of their training.

Week One

This week is considered the most intense week of physical conditioning. Recruits take their initial swim qualification test, learn military drill, the details of rank and rating, and the Navy core values.

Week Two

During Week Two, recruits learn the Navy chain of command, custom and courtesies, and basic watchstanding

Week Three

Week Three consists of hands on training. Recruits will learn laws of armed conflict, money management, basic seamanship, shipboard communication, and Navy ship and aircraft identification. Recruits also take their first physical training test, consisting of curl ups, sit-reaches, push ups, and a 1.5-mile (2.4 km) run.

Week Four

Week Four mostly consists of weapons training. Recruits are familiarized with the M9 and the Mossberg 500 or Remington 870 (the Navy no longer gives weapons training on the M-16 during basic training).

Week Five

Week Five consists of learning more of drill instructions need from the military drill assessment.

Week Six

During Week Six, recruits learn shipboard damage and firefighting skills. Recruits will learn to escape smoke-filled compartments, open and close watertight doors, use self-contained breathing apparatus, carry fire hoses and learn to extinguish fires. Week Six also consists of the Confidence Chamber (tear-gas chamber).

Week Seven

Week Seven is the last week of Navy Basic Training. These seven weeks, combined with Processing Week, makeup the approximate eight week training cycle that each Recruit must complete before graduating. Week seven consists of the accumulation of Navy Basic Training in a gruelling 12 hour exercise called "Battle Stations". This reinforces much of the instruction learned during Basic Training. Recruits have to pass all the requirements of Basic Training in order to participate in "Battle Stations". Once Recruits have successfully completed "Battle Stations" they become Sailors, don their Navy Ball Cap and are permitted to Pass In Review (PIR) at the USS Midway, Ceremonial Drill Hall, officially marking their graduation and entrance into the fleet of the United States Navy.

 

After these eight weeks, Blake will be in California with the Navy Seals. 

Cyndi and Jim are hosting an oyster roast on October 10th and inviting everyone to help send him off in style.