Since1994, RTC Great Lakes is 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 recruit. Recruits undergo medical and dental exams, inoculations nad haircuts. All recruits must pass regular uniform and military drill inspections plus inspections of lockers and barracks. Routine tests on academic course work and physical fitness are also given. When the new recruits 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 sailors. RDCs are Chief Petty Officers or senior Petty Officers specially selected because of their leadership and teaching abilities. Some of the key moments of basica training are:

Swim Survival
All recruits undergo a swim test to determine individual levels of competence and go to improve their swimming skills until they are able to pass Navy swimming standards.

Classroom Instructions and field training
In addition to normal classroom instructions the recruits learn fundamentals of ordnance and gunnery, seamanship, swimming, water survival, and fire-fighting. Three drill halls provide space for practice in military drill and physical fitness training.

Confidence Course
The Confidence Course is located at Camp Moffett. Course obstacles include the tire run, tunnel crawl, shaft alley, davit beams over and under bars, mooring line, horizontal bars, pull-up bar, sand bag carry, wall climb, fireman carry, rope climb, and weight carry runs. Near the end of basic training, recruits undergo a final evaluation called, "Battle Stations."

Each week, the Commanding Officer, Recruit Training Command hosts an impressive recruit graduation review ceremony that attracts more than 100,000 visitors annually. The ceremony is held outdoors on the parade field in Camp Porter.

Technical training begins at RTC and continues throughout a Navy career. All Sailors completing boot camp are assigned some form of advanced training before transferring to their first assignment. Many recruits have "A" schools or specialized technical training guaranteed before arriving at RTC. Others may receive general training in seamanship or engineering.