Navy Boot Camp: What to Expect, Week by Week

Every enlisted sailor starts at the same place. RTC describes the process as “Sailorization” — turning civilians into sailors who can function as part of a ship’s crew. The schedule below follows the events RTC publishes for each week. Schedules do change, so treat it as a guide to the shape of training rather than a timetable.

Arrival and processing days

You arrive, often late at night, and the first days — known as P-days — are administrative. They do not count toward the training weeks. According to RTC, processing days include:

• A brief phone call home to say you have arrived
• The night of arrival and the “Moment of Truth”, your last chance to disclose anything not already on your record
• Pay and administrative paperwork
• Initial medical and dental screening
• Haircuts and the first uniform issue
• An initial fitness event
• Briefs on the Uniform Code of Military Justice and education benefits

Your phone and civilian belongings are boxed up at this point and returned the day before graduation. See our boot camp packing list for what you may keep.

Week by week

The parts people worry about

The swim qualification

Every recruit takes a swim qualification in the first week. If you are not a confident swimmer, spend time in a pool before you leave: get used to jumping in, floating and swimming a couple of lengths without stopping. Recruits who do not pass receive additional instruction, but arriving comfortable in the water removes a major source of stress.

Fitness

You are assessed early, midway and officially near the end. The events mirror the fleet test: push-ups, a forearm plank and a 1.5-mile run. The single best thing you can do beforehand is arrive already able to run 1.5 miles without stopping. Follow our 8-week run plan and read how the Navy PRT works.

Battle Stations 21

The final test is an overnight series of scenarios aboard a training ship simulator, drawing on everything you have learned — firefighting, damage control, seamanship and teamwork. Completing it marks the point where you stop being a recruit.

Being away from home

Contact is limited to letters and a handful of scheduled phone calls. Letters matter more than you would expect. Give family the correct mailing address format as soon as you have it; RTC publishes it in its FAQ.

How to arrive ready

After graduation

Graduation is the start, not the finish. Most new sailors go on to a technical school for their rating — commonly called “A” school — before reporting to their first command. Family members planning to attend Pass-in-Review should follow the instructions RTC publishes on its graduation page, as access to the base is controlled.