How Long Is Navy Boot Camp? A Complete Timeline
TL;DR — Quick Answer
Navy boot camp — officially called Recruit Training Command (RTC) — lasts 10 weeks at Great Lakes, Illinois. Every enlisted sailor passes through the same pipeline of physical training, classroom instruction, and hands-on exercises before graduating and heading to A-School or the fleet.
Duration and location
Navy boot camp is exactly 10 weeks long, conducted at Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes in North Chicago, Illinois. It is the only enlisted initial-training location in the Navy — every active-duty and full-time-support recruit ships here regardless of their home state. The 10-week timeline replaced the older 8-week format; the extra two weeks were added to incorporate more hands-on seamanship and warfighting skills. You will arrive on a specific ship date coordinated by your recruiter and MEPS liaison. From the moment the bus pulls through the gate, the clock starts on your 10-week journey.
Week-by-week overview
Weeks 1-2 (Processing Days and P-Days): You receive uniforms, haircuts, medical screenings, and your initial fitness assessment. This is the most disorienting phase — you are sleep-deprived, yelled at, and adjusting to a completely new environment. Weeks 3-5 focus on classroom subjects like Navy customs and courtesies, rank structure, Navy core values, first aid, and shipboard damage-control theory. You will also begin hands-on training in firefighting and flooding simulators. Weeks 6-8 ramp up physical intensity. You will complete the confidence course, learn line-handling, and take multiple written exams. Weeks 9-10 culminate in Battle Stations — a 12-hour overnight scenario that simulates shipboard emergencies. Passing Battle Stations is the final gate before graduation.
What to expect physically
You will take an initial Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) during P-Days, and a final PFA near graduation. The Navy PRT standards require a minimum plank hold, push-ups, and a 1.5-mile run (or alternate cardio). If you fail the initial assessment you may be placed in a Fitness Enhancement Program (FEP) division, which can extend your time at Great Lakes. Physical training (PT) happens almost every day — calisthenics, running, swimming qualifications, and obstacle courses. The best way to prepare is to arrive already meeting PRT standards. Your recruiter can give you the current minimums, and there are PRT calculator apps that break down the scoring.
Graduation and what comes next
Graduation day is called Pass-in-Review. Your family can attend (and should — it is a memorable ceremony). After graduation most sailors receive a short liberty period before reporting to their A-School. Some undesignated sailors may head directly to the fleet. A-School lengths vary wildly — from 5 weeks for some surface ratings to over a year for nuclear power or advanced electronics pipelines. Your total time in training (boot camp + A-School) is the real number to plan around when thinking about when you will reach your first operational command.
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Related Questions
What is Navy boot camp like, and how do you prepare?
Navy boot camp (Recruit Training Command) is 10 weeks at RTC Great Lakes in Illinois. You'll learn basic seamanship, military customs, firefighting, damage control, and weapons qualification. It's physically and mentally demanding, but the attrition rate is low if you come prepared.
Read answer →What is the Navy DEP, and what should you expect?
The Delayed Entry Program (DEP) is the waiting period between signing your contract at MEPS and shipping to boot camp. It typically lasts 1–12 months. During DEP you stay at home, attend recruiter meetings, and prepare physically and mentally for boot camp.
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