Great Lakes has been turning civilians into seamen and seamen into sailors for more than 80 years. From NTC's founding in 1911, it has maintained its position as the Navy's largest training facility. From World War I through today it has trained and sent to the fleet more than two million new sailors through its Recruit Training Command and nearly an equal number from its technical schools.

Theodore Roosevelt signed the act authorizing the construction of the station and directed the Navy to make Great Lakes the biggest and the best Naval Training Station in the world. Rear Admiral Albert A. Ross raised the flag on the site July 1, 1905, and took possession of the land for the government. He was the station's first commander. Ross Field and Auditorium on mainside are named in his honor. More than 100,000 men trained at Great Lakes during the First World War. During this time, Seabees began here and Lieutenant John Phillip Sousa created 14 regimental bands numbering a total of 1,500 members. On several occasions all 1,500 played together on Ross Field.

Great Lakes was a pioneer in racial integration of the Navy. In 1942, Doreston Carmen, Jr., reported as the first African American for training in a general rating. Two years later, 12 ensigns and a warrant officer were commissioned here as the first African American officers in the Navy. During the summer of 1987, the new Recruit In-Processing Center was dedicated in their honor with eight surviving members of the "Golden 13" in attendance.

In 1994, RTC Great Lakes became the Navy's only Recruit Training Command. Best known as "boot camp," recruit training involves a change in living, discipline, responsibility, and the mental and physical makeup of the new enlisted Sailor.

From the first day at RTC through graduation day, recruits find themselves in a whirl of activity: forms to be filled out, medical and dental exams, inoculations for protection from a variety of diseases, haircuts, swim survival tests-and that's just the first few days.

When the young men and women arrive, they are formed into divisions and assigned a Recruit Division Commander (RDC). For the next eight weeks, the "RDC" will be the person most directly responsible for molding the recruits into Navy men and women. RDCs are Chief Petty Officers or senior Petty Officers specially selected because of their leadership and teaching abilities. They must represent and teach Navy tradition, customs and discipline.

The first three weeks of recruit training are the toughest. The work load is heavy and the recruits must adjust to a completely new way of life. Classroom instruction, military drill, physical fitness training, and instruction by the Recruit Division Commander leave the recruit little free time. During the third week, divisions enter into the competitive aspect of training. Excellence in academic achievement, military drill, cleanliness and athletics all count toward earning honor flags. The competition encourages teamwork and develops pride in achievement.

In addition to normal classroom instruction periods, the recruits may spend hours in the "field" learning fundamentals of ordnance and gunnery, seamanship, swimming, water survival, and fire-fighting. Three drill halls provide space for practice in competitive military drill and physical fitness training. Near the end of basic training, recruits undergo a final evaluation called, "Battle Stations."

Recruits live in 1000-bed barracks and eat at the recruit galleys. Staff members live in staff barracks, base housing and in surrounding communities.

The Great Lakes Housing office manages and maintains 329 housing units located on the now closed Army facility at Fort Sheridan, about a 15-minute drive from NTC. Many shopping centers, restaurants, schools, and recreational establishments are available nearby.

Located approximately 20 miles south of Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, there are 189 housing units located in the city of Glenview, the site of the former Naval Air Station. An additional 220 units of new Navy family housing units, including a Housing Office/Community Center building, were completed in 1998.

Great Lakes is also home to the Navy Region Midwest.