Navy boot camp — officially called Recruit Training, and often shortened to "basic training" — runs nine weeks at Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes, plus a few processing days (P-Days) at the very start. Here's the real week-by-week breakdown, straight from RTC's own training schedule.
Quick Answer
- Length: 9 weeks of training, plus P-Days (in-processing) before Week 1 officially begins.
- Changed recently: Boot camp was extended from 8 to 10 weeks in 2020, then shortened to 9 weeks in January 2025 under the Navy's Navigation Plan 2024.
- Ends with: Pass-in-Review (PIR), the graduation ceremony, during Week 9.
Training length and curriculum are set by RTC and can change. Always confirm your Sailor's specific timeline with them directly.
Week-by-Week Breakdown
| Phase | What Happens |
|---|---|
| P-Days | Arrival, division assignment, haircuts, initial uniform issue, medical/dental screening |
| Week 1 | 3rd Class Swim Qualification, core values, uniforms & grooming standards |
| Week 2 | Navy ships & aircraft, Naval history, Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), first phone call home |
| Week 3 | Sexual Assault Prevention & Response (SAPR), basic seamanship on the simulated USS Marlinspike |
| Week 4 | Damage control basics, firefighting fundamentals, RDC fitness assessment, second phone call |
| Week 5 | Weapons familiarization, small arms training, drill inspections |
| Week 6 | Personnel inspection, division photo, firefighting application |
| Week 7 | Final personnel inspection, firefighting assessment, Warrior Toughness training |
| Week 8 | Official Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA), Battle Stations 21 — a 12-hour capstone simulation aboard the USS Trayer |
| Week 9 | Ticket & orders pickup, photo pickup, liberty brief, and Pass-in-Review graduation |
Why the Length Has Changed
Navy boot camp hasn't always been nine weeks. It ran 8 weeks for years, was extended to 10 weeks in 2020 to add more hands-on shipboard and firefighting training, then was adjusted to 9 weeks starting January 2025 as part of a broader update to how the Navy trains new Sailors. If you're comparing notes with someone who went through boot camp a few years ago, don't be surprised if their timeline looked a little different from your Sailor's.
How Long Until You See Them Again?
Nine weeks with no in-person visits is the hardest part for most families. You'll get scheduled phone calls (four are worked into the schedule above) and can send mail, but the next time you'll see your Sailor is graduation morning at Pass-in-Review — unless their arrival is delayed by a setback like an injury or a training recycle, which does happen and can add extra weeks.
Plan for Graduation Week
PIR Schedule & Dates
How to confirm your Sailor's exact graduation date.
What Happens After Boot Camp
Orders, A-school, and leave — what comes next.
Hotels Near Great Lakes
Book early — graduation week rooms go fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Navy boot camp in 2026?
Navy boot camp at RTC Great Lakes is 9 weeks of training, plus a short P-Days (processing) period before Week 1 officially starts. It was shortened from 10 weeks to 9 weeks in January 2025.
Has Navy boot camp always been 9 weeks?
No. It was 8 weeks for years, extended to 10 weeks in 2020, and then adjusted to 9 weeks starting January 2025 under the Navy's Navigation Plan 2024. Length can change, so always confirm your Sailor's specific schedule with them.
What happens in the last week of Navy boot camp?
Week 9 includes ticket and orders pickup, photo pickup, a liberty brief, and the Pass-in-Review graduation ceremony.
Can Navy boot camp take longer than 9 weeks?
Yes, for an individual recruit. Injuries, medical holds, or being "recycled" to a different division for performance reasons can add extra weeks to a specific Sailor's timeline, even though the standard curriculum is 9 weeks.