Toughness of Navy Boot Camp

I have heard that Navy bootcamp is pretty laid back compared with the Marines and the Army.  I have heard that there is a lot of down time.  Is this true? 

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  • I went through basic San Diego Aug. 2.1972 And the first two weeks was like a hell.They treated us like we were lower forms of life.There was a red line brig then but now is outlawed from the Navy. I watch these guy get marched in the chow hall everyday answering to whistle call and billy clubbed if them missed a cue. We had ten minutes to eat and if you were one of the last three to leave and go out to get back in rank you give the company commander 50 push-ups. I did 1500 jumping jack and 50 push-ups daily for the first two weeks I seen sailors getting punched on a regular bases.I told to a Army guy that went through Army basic in 1968 and he said he didn't believe it. He said the Army didn't treated people like that in his basic training . They put you under a lot of pressure to see if you will crack you. I am glad I went through it but I would not want to do it again !!!
  • While I was in bootcamp, there was a week that I hardly did anything but it was after battlestations.
  • My son is in his 5th week and he said it very stressful.they have to adapt to many things in a short time.
  • Talk to any sailor (recruit) who just completed bootcamp and I doubt they would describe it as laid back!. My son said it was the hardest, most stressful 8 weeks of his life. From what he told me, there is almost NO down time whatsoever.
  • I went through Boot Camp in 1969. At that time the PT was primarily a punishment. The most exercise that I did was learning the 16 count and the 96 count manual arms. I had no more PT till I hit Fleet Divers training. Boy did I wish I had a regular PT. The instructors were SEALs and expected you to keep up.
    Today's Navy tries to create an environment where fitness is part of Navy life. The fitness of a certain level is expected at Boot Camp and you will not graduate unless you make level at the final test. In the fleet PT is conducted on a regular basis and is now tested at least twice per year. The fitness component is part of your over all evaluation. A promotion may be denied because of a failure on a PT.
    Don't worry there are enough things to learn at Boot Camp that there will not be any time to lay around. This includes PT 6 days per week. Only schedule free time is during certian hours on Sundays, if your are squared away. If not you better be getting squared away.
    Take a look at the Great Lakes RTC web site there is a list and videos of the training.
  • My SR that is there is loving it but this week started his hard PT week.
  • Zach should be able to answer as he just graduated a couple of weeks ago....in the end...does it really matter?
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