Boot Camp at The San Diego U.S. Naval Training Center in the 1960s

[@jimpowell2296]

I joined the Navy and went to boot camp in late September 1965. Graduating in December. Company 527. Went to A school in Millington TN. Before A school I went to Pt. Magu in Oxnard Ca. Then to A school. Received my orders are to report to Fighter Squadron VF-154 Black Knights, stationed at NAS Miramar Ca. I was an AQ, fire control technician, which meant I worked on the radar systems in the F4 Phantom. Two Westpac cruises in the South China Sea, Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club, 1967-68 and 1968-69. Honorably discharged in September 1969.

[@GitzenShiggles]

Totally cool! I went to RTC San Diego in 1989. GO NAVY!

[@DouglasUrantia]

I was there in 1966. It was a nightmare experience due to drunken and brutal CCs in charge of the young boots. They were not well trained CCs. Mine was a 1st Class Ship Fitter and he hated the recruits. I refused to speak to him after I graduated.

[@richardbird9326]

My father joined the Navy the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed ! He went to NTC San Diego ! After Clynton closed the base the City of San Diego turned it into a retail market !

[@jhollie8196]

Grew up across the street from MCRD and NTC in Gateway Village, a military housing complex from 65-69 on Barnett Ave. went to George Dewey Elementary. Awesome place to grow up. There was no color, we were all poor and played outside until our mom’s would call us in at dark. I followed in my dad’s footsteps and joined the Marine Corps and did 21 years! Thanks for sharing.

[@jackboote5179]

I was there, Worm Island August '66. Came from southwestern Minnesota during the air controller strike. Started out by Greyhound bus to Omaha NE then by train to KC, Albuquerque, LA and finally San Diego. What a ride. Made it through boot then on to NTC for Basic E&E then onward across Harbor Drive to the Fleet ASW School. First duty station was USS Haynsworth DD700 out of Galveston Texas. Cruised the Caribbean, Key West, Jamaica, and up to Charleston SC. Transferred to the USS Leahy DLG16 in the yards in Philadelphia, re-commissioning plank owner May 4 '68. Road her out of Naval Station Norfolk till May 4 1970. At 0001 I left Norfolk and headed for Minnesota. Listened to Kent State play out on the radio as we drove across Ohio with three other homeward bound sailors. It was a great start and learning experience that served me well through the next thirty plus years of my civilian career. As luck would have it during my civilian career after the Navy my home office was in San Diego where I had many friends and memories.

[@stevegrothe7877]

A fine job! Thanks for sharing. I was in 040 - January 1968

[@genataylor460]

My younger brother joined the Navy in June 1967, at the age of 17. Being still considered a minor he had to have our parents' written permission to enlist. He had dropped out of high school at the end of his junior year because he had taken all of the courses required to graduate except for senior English and they would not allow him to take it in summer school, which would have allowed him to graduate in three years. He did not want to stay in high school an entire year just to take that one course he needed to graduate. As soon as he got to boot camp they gave him the test for his GED which he passed with flying colors. He had enlisted to be a corpsman, however, he ran out of the room vomiting during a training film dealing with white phosphorus burns, at which time they changed his MOS to radarman, and he ended up serving on a guided missile destroyer, based out of the Philippines. He had told me of a couple times he had gotten in trouble in basic. Once he was in some sort of training handling rifles, and a drill instructor got upset because his fingers were not tightly together at the butt of the rifle. That had been because he had injured one of his fingers playing baseball in high school, and he was unable to force them to align like the drill instructor wanted. The drill instructor got angry and smashed my brother's hand with the butt of his rifle. My brother, who normally did not talk like that, called him a f**king N**ger and was sent to the brig for the racial slur. The drill instructor was also sent to the brig for smashing my brother's hand. Another time he almost got in trouble when he had been dating an admiral's daughter and the admiral had found out they had been having sex. HIs daughter was 20 years old so she was a minor and he was trying to bring statutory rape charges against my brother, until he found out my brother was only 17, three years younger than his daughter. Every thing was quickly dropped.

[@williamparker5254]

Thank you for the memories! I was there in May 1961. Got selected for NROTC and then spent 23 years in the Marine Corps. Went back to "Liberty Station" recently and looked at the USS Never Sail (Recruit). Really sad to see it all alone now. I wonder where my fellow recruits are now. Bill Parker LtCol USMC (Ret)

[@storminby]

We were just there today. Quite a change from when I was here last - in 1990

[@charlieLund-v4r]

I was in Co. 512 in 1962. Graduated Dec 7, 1962. Two weeks leave, then back to NTC for 7 months of Radio "A" School. From Jan 63 - July 63. Then orders for a Destroyer, U.S.S. Lyman K. Swenson DD-729. Was assign to her till I got out in Sept 66, as 3rd class Radioman, E-4. I lived in San Jose, Ca., ship was home ported in Yokosuka, Japan. Came back to the States and new Home port was San Diego down there on 32nd St, usually pier 5. Amazing to have spend it mostly in San Diego. Tin Can Sailor all the way, member of the Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club, and a Shell back.

[@wfwillis]

Company 185, Mar-May 1962. CWO4 USN Ret.

[@AtOddsAlways]

Thanks! Company 65-489 from September 13 '65 until November 8. 8 mos TDY at Kingsville TX NAAS before "A" School at Millington. Did my 4 yrs + 7 weeks leaving the Navy in November '69 as a TD2. Best 4 years of my life save a first failed marriage.

[@Crozbyguy-rg1iu]

Kingsville has changed since I was there in -73, can't say I miss it. Just out of the meat grinder after rehab , and finally back to Millington, they just got rid of the f8 and we had the A4 in three squadrons. We did get new barracks. San Diego didn't feel much like California at Camp Elliot , Camp Nimitz, all so long ago.

[@Scharpy1]

Great tribute to your dad and the Naval Training Center. Thanks for posting. 1969 Company 631. Good experience and good times. I too made a video useing my Anchor yearbook. Go Navy!!!

[@biggshow1045]

Igraduated in 1987 co.001 good memories sad their is no more base their just stores. My old barracks in san diego is now the sdfd boot camp training. Sub base is still their . Good stuff

[@paulcramer7315]

Went to boot camp here in 1964, then IC-A school in San Diego, then shipped out to Pearl Harbor onboard the USS Hassayamps AO-145. The big Hass, great duty since the gyro room was top side under the captains guarters. Many good friends and good times.

[@MrBobm001]

Been there, Done that, San Diego Boot camp late July 1965 Company 352, first company without leggings and 8 weeks training for the VietNam era, served aboard USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) Two Westpac tours in Gulf of Tonkin including that quick trip to Korea regarding USS Pueblo capture/ North Korea, slight difference in temperature VietNam to North Korea coast, ) as Radarman some duties required outside lookout watches. Also served on USS Ajax (AR-6) Homeport Sasebo, Japan before my 4 year enlistment ended in July 1969.

[@wfwillis]

Served on the USS Bexar APA-237 when we were pulled out of Sasebo Japan when the Pueblo was taken. We steamed up to Yang Po Rie SKorea and boarded ROKs for wet net training, as they were debating whether to retake the Pueblo. It was the coldest place I have ever been! CWO4 USN Ret.

[@larryostendorf5159]

Was in Company 350. FT"A" school, Mare Island. Dropped, no security clearance. Sent to NSA Danang, USS Gridley DGL21 until decommissioned, USS Isle Royale.

[@frankgordon8829]

Some things never change.

[@karlerpenbeck6489]

June of 1979 , a young 17 lad from England. I did four extra weeks of boot camp there. I couldn't march I was always out of step.But I complete it and served four years on two different ships. The USS Frank Cable AS40, and the USS Butte AE 27

[@archiehenderson2744]

I was there too from September 1966 to mid December 1966.

[@jwells3315]

I worked there NTC at Sail Ho golf course after serving in the Navy in 1985

[@Errr717]

1967 Company 207. I have the same yearbook template.

[@williamsalin3509]

I was there march 1966 Co 272! Was very fortunate to have good CC chief Smith!

[@tiedryflies]

I had a CPO Smith in 1965, his rate was electrician

[@TimGivens-cx7cf]

I went to boot camp in San Diego in Feb 62 Co 114 and then I was station at the naval training station until I was able to go aboard my ship uss shields dd 596

[@user-by2zl3vk5y]

Company 415 September 63! Lost my year book 😢

[@bdkhastime2fish]

kool, I went in july 70 at the Great Lakes Co. 277 after all these years I can still remember his name, my co. name was Gunnersmate First class C.W. Duthhorn. we were his last company, don't know what ever happen to him. then I went to N.A.S. Meridian,Miss.

[@ChuckFasst]

I graduated in 1974. I think I was in company # 386

[@oldsalt7534]

Company 158 19 Feb-14 May 1964. Company Commander MMC James A. Hanley, Jr.

[@waynegood9233]

I was there in May -Aug on 1967

[@jimwjohnq.public]

Went there in 1974.

[@stephenpjohnson2866]

I enjoyed viewing your well presented presentation and tribute to your father.....MCRD 09-76 to 12-76

[@thomastarwater2989]

Sad news: the San Diego training facility was finally shut down for good in 1997. The politicians back then were just so SURE that peace was breaking out all over the world. It’s 2024. Peace is not breaking out and there’s one less training facility.

[@shawnp6744]

The Navy wanted San Diego and Orlando but pols wanted Great Lakes. Billions spent to rehab Great Lakes from 98ish to 2010. Complete rebuild plus expansion.

[@Hunter-zp5hd]

I went to NTC in 1991. Not all that difficult. I did learn something very important; be concise with every answer you give. Never add more than what was asked. My CCs were very good in retrospect. One was a BMC and one was an ADC. Both had great military bearing and other than a good number of cycling and some Marching Parties, not too bad. I also lost 30 lbs. It didn’t take all that long to realize that Boot Camp is not the Navy. Your ‘A’ school is not the Navy. The Navy really starts once you get to your command.

[@Asphalt_iggi]

Oct-Dec 1992 Company 007. Good Times

[@masaoaochi3056]

I joined the Navy in Oakland, California, on Feb 1, 1966, and I was assigned Company 079. By any chance, was he assigned to the same Company as I was in San Diego NTC?

[@HistorySanDiego]

No, I don't think so

[@LeeMcmillon]

I went to training in 1975 my cc was Farley

[@JimGibson-j9o]

Mine was boatswains mate 1st class Rodgers company 088 1975 . I loved it . Especially graduation day .🎉 . 🇺🇲

[@KennyInSubic]

I went to A School at NTC in Jan 1981

[@jgonzalez101]

Nice tribute to the Naval Center and your Dad's Service. How long did he Serve?

[@HistorySanDiego]

Thanks! He served from around 1966 until the early 1970s. He was stationed in California and Florida.

[@user-by2zl3vk5y]

Co.415 September 63, Lost my copy of the anchor,can anyone help me 😮❤

[@mikecorrigan3136]

I was there feb 75 worm island 😂

[@xTinBenderX]

1990 Co 146 CC Master Chief Torres and PO1 Donato was Crack Rifle Drill Team for graduation. Good times 🫡⚒️🪽AMS1 Retired

[@greagior]

Company 232 1979

[@StephenReno-g7n]

Funny thing, I was there in 1985,had a hungover chief do a hurricane inspection,aokay to drink yourself to death but god help you if you smoke a little weed!

[@vwmodrock]

Co. 035, January, 1968. What a waste of time, torture and abuse. Better than a rice paddy in 'Nam though. Then 9 months in Memphis learning avionics and sent to a sea going naval air squadron where I never worked on 'tweet' stuff again, I was made a brown shirt as an AT-3 on the flight deck of USS Saratoga and USS Ranger. Made 2nd class, but never got to sew it on as I had a 'bad' attitude. What a complete and thorough waste of time.

[@jessiewinegeart3898]

Great CC’s for company 072. Great experience. USS Mars AFS1, USS Dixon AS37, USS Enterprise CVN 65, USS Kennedy CV67, USS Caron DD970, USS Guam LPH9, USS Arkansas CGN41 and a few others. Would recommend military service to most everyone although not necessarily under this current admin.

[@johnmcphaill3872]

I was in San Diego in 1979 I got the advantages of the new barracks until the earthquake happen. Then we got to live out on the grinder intense but I enjoyed it. There's one of the hardest things I've ever done in makes me sad. To know that Obama took that and the boot camp in Florida out just so he could have his boot camp in great mistakes. Which that base needs to be closed down and the boot. Camps in San Diego and in Florida need to be opened back up and maybe take the one in great mistakes and put it in Texas somewhere.