[lcpd24]

Boy--How things have changed in 37 years since I went in!!!


Subject: Changes to Navy Boot Camp
> > Navy Remaking Boot Camp for Recruits
> >
> > By ERIC FIDLER, Associated Press Writer
> >
> > CHICAGO - Generations of recruits at the Great Lakes Naval Training
Center
> > have marched from barracks to classroom, classroom to barracks, barracks
> to
> > mess hall _ more than a mile and a half a day for their nine weeks of
> basic
> > training.
> >
> > "Two years ago, we did more marching than even the Marine Corps or the
> > Army," said Rear Adm. Ann Rondeau, commander of the center in North
> Chicago.
> >
> > But the nation's only boot camp for Navy enlistees is undergoing a major
> > change _ and less marching for the roughly 45,000 recruits who pass
> through
> > every year is only a part of it.
> >
> > Instead of wasting training time by making recruits adapt to the aging
> base,
> > the base is adapting to them. The result, Rondeau and others say, should
> be
> > better-trained, healthier sailors who are prepared to serve from the day
> > they graduate.
> >
> > Two years ago, recruits were allotted six and a half hours of sleep.
> Today,
> > they get eight hours, a reflection that most people need that much
shuteye
> > to be healthy and to learn effectively.
> >
> > Recruits no longer spend a week of their training on kitchen duty. Meals
> are
> > handled by a private company, leaving more time for training in
fighting,
> > survival and counterterrorism techniques.
> >
> > The two giant dining halls are disappearing, to be replaced by galleys
in
> > the barracks.
> >
> > Fifteen new barracks are being built containing classroom and training
> > areas; each will be named after a famous ship from Navy history in an
> > attempt to imbue Navy lore in sailors from the start.
> >
> > They will replace barracks with antiquated ventilation systems in which,
> > Rondeau said, when one recruit gets sick, 70 or 80 more quickly follow.
> >
> > Also slated for the wrecking ball are the base's drill halls, which were
> put
> > up more than 60 years ago as temporary structures. They will be replaced
> by
> > three new training halls with air conditioning, offices and classrooms
and
> > modern amenities.
> >
> > The cost of all the new construction is projected to be $798 million
over
> > nine years, said Cmdr. Tony Edmonds.
> >
> > Navy officials are quick to say the new approach is intended to be more
> > focused, not any less rigorous than the old way of doing things.
> >
> > "I think the recruits are going to get a training that's more tailored
to
> > the needs of the Navy," Lt. Dan Cook said.
> >
> > "Always being tired all the time and always being sick and coughing
really
> > affects your ability to effectively learn," Rondeau said. "We want
people
> to
> > be able to focus on making critical decisions."