Naval Training center San Diego, Ca. 46 years later.

[@markbell335]

I was an RTC squirrel starting in late August, 1966. My company commander reminded me each day that I was lower than whale shit. In 1969 I earned the Navy Commendation Medal, with Combat 'V' serving on Swift Boats our of Da Nang, Vietnam. RD1 Parker, I solute you Sir for hardening me for River ops in Vietnam. Mark Bell PCF-69

[@robertbrink2240]

Mark I too recieved the Navy commendation medal for my Service in Danang.I went to boot camp in San Diego in 1964. What we learned in boot has helped us for the rest of our lives. Thank you for your service. Welcome home brother!

[@dundonrl]

I attended boot camp from Oct 24 1991 till Dec 24 1991, (that's a replacement bridge, built around 1992 time frame).. my retirement ceremony was held in front of the USS Recruit in Aug 2011, when I went on terminal leave, and my actual retirement was Nov 1 2011, 20 years and 7 days of active duty service.

[@caseycalhoun7900]

I was there mid summer 1975 i think my company number was 107 or 108 chief Perry was our comander, i miss my time spent in the Navy and all the friends, two carriers western pacific

[@martymaranan7191]

I still remember the bridge, I passed Thru that bridge for a week every 5:00 PM because I didn’t pass the Swimming test the first day.it’s been 62 years as 19 years old recruited From Philippines.

[@patr70]

Wow. Cool story.

[@billbye2427]

in 1959 when you crossed that bridge you "routed step" between mainside and Nimitz; if you felt lonely and misplaced there was a 4' high wire garden fence into MCRD jump that and your donkey belonged to the Corps until you finished their boot camp; then back to the Naval Station for Navy boot camp. 092-59. That was OLD Navy!!

[@13wyr]

I was in boot camp here September to November 1973. Place just isn't the same. But then, I think it went downhill when they let the worms send out the laundry. Nothing like scrub tables and tie ropes to end the day.

[@dennisstender1743]

I was in Co.301 EO1 Knowles was Co.Commander later I ran into him as Chief Knowles when we were in MCB 5

[@robertbrink2240]

You make me laugh! Nothing like string ties,scrub brushes and wisk bottles. April 1964. Company 242.

[@thatguyinelnorte]

Was almost a lot of fun...

[@robertbrink2240]

Company 242, joined April 1964. I can still remember marching on the grinder practicing for graduation to the music of John Phillips Susa. Company 242 bring her around again!

[@westleyanson]

1988…I have great memories of Boot Camp, then NTC, in San Diego! 😎

[@samuelestigoy4219]

I Joined in August, 1986 COMPANY 933 . Served on four US NAVY Ships 🚢 with Six Deployments. I'm RETIRED US Navy ❤

[@53bigmikejones]

Many memories of RTC/NTC San Diego. I guess the value of the property was more important than keeping it as a training center. While on P week, had one guy go over the wire, right into MCRD San Diego. They kept him one week and he was glad to get back to the Navy. Thanks for the Memories.

[@yuvegotmale]

In 1968 that bridge to squirrel island was wood....we had to break step going over it.....

[@eliterry3785]

I thought it was “worm island”? Interesting.

[@chuckurso921]

Company 215. NTC San Diego. Company Commander BT1 Harris 1969

[@ventusky308]

All these years the USS Neversail has been 'haze grey and underway'...may she so continue her presence....

[@edweeden]

Fitsao, much respect and gratitude for your post. By the way, it was R&O (Receiving and Orientation), and you're absolutely right - we didn't march over that bridge from 'Worm Island' we walked (the command was 'Break Step') to keep the bridge from vibrating and possibly being damaged. Ed Weeden, Staff, RTC SD, Division 2440, 1973-1977. Once every 14 days I stood duty at R&O greeting those coming off the busses and collecting their Service Records and unauthorized personal effects.

[@jaywhy8202]

When I went to boot camp @ RTC SD, she was TDE-1...when I returned in 1990, assigned to NAS Miramar, she had undergone an overhaul in 1982 to update her look and weapon systems. Missing from her fantail are the depth charge racks. The bridge that links Advanced to Primary sides is about 10 years, the old wooden bridge was demolished and removed. R&O (Receiving & Outfitting) was on Camp Nimitz, the intake point for all recruits.

[@jaywhy8202]

RECRUIT is TFFG-1, and made to look more like a Oliver Hazard Perry-class (FFG-7) guided missile frigate. In 2003 she was designated as a California Historic Landmark. She is currently the joint property of the Corky McMillin Company (developers of former NTC into Liberty Station) and the NTC Historical Society.

[@pigwigpa]

Remember the words : "Through these hallowed halls, passed the finest men and women of the US Navy" My father went there and so did I. It just kills me that the developers jack hammered 75 years of navy tradition for high up townhouses. Feb 90 div5 co 108 and MRa school

[@kenhaley334]

The training ship was named the USS Recruit in the sixties.

[@CrossTownBand]

Company 360, Sept-Nov of 1972, QMC William A. Grow was our CC. Many memories, great time and new friends! I enlisted at age 17 after dropping out of HS and attaining my GED from Phoenix College before enlisting. Still remember many of the men I went thru basic with, and am still friends with a best friend I made there, Richard Slay.

[@Christracey889]

1988 company 038. Great memories

[@boywjc4evr]

Com 732 yr.67 it's a glory to cross the bridge,what a relief..

[@boywjc4evr]

Yeah TDE-1 We have the seamanship lecture and the bridge once you cross to the nxt side is a glory.Its is a schooling until you shift out and got the order to yout nxt destintion..I end it up cacthing my ship to Tonkin Gulf...what a ride....experience..

[@TheTurk56523]

Never been to O & R.........However, I've been to R & O.

[@Me-fm9zk]

Correct! Receiving and Outfitting.

[@nestordserrano8438]

Company 122, 1975, IT1 Fitzhugh was our CC

[@curtiss744]

This brings back so many memories oct 1985 company 218 div 3

[@phantomcruizer]

It was called "FTG1" in 1982!

[@tboone8680]

We didn't march over bridge, we walked at ease over it,wooden back then,CO 040 Div 5 March 88 to April 88 leap year, recruiters were thrown off when to ship us out.

[@ronberlier6695]

Didn't seem like a good time at the time, but looking back it was a very good time. Company 504, Fall 1961

[@flatbedbill]

You and me both, Brother. USS Coral Sea(CVA-43), Gulf of Tonkin Yacht Club.NTC San Diego - Company 264 June 1970.

[@oldsalt7534]

February 19-March 14 1964. Company 158. Company Commander MMC James A. Hanley Jr. I wish they would have restored one of each of the barracks on Camp Nimitz and Main Side.

[@Crazy-Horse-Tx.]

Man , do I miss that bridge. I can remember the day it pour down raining. Our CC screaming @ us. Pick those heads up damn recruits! What the hell was that Filipino s name ?

[@ufafgd]

Maybe PO1 Oliva? For me, Sept -Nov '81. You don't mention your time. It was constant threats at best with "marching party" or "barracks hurricane". I'm sure you remember these. Or " you don't make 2 1/4 mile run, you get set back 1 week and you fail. You f*ck up, you fail. You don't pass written classroom test, you fail. On and on it went. But I look back on that and the 4 years I spent in the Sub Service with fondness and pride.

[@Crazy-Horse-Tx.]

@@ufafgd Oct 1990 - Dec 1990 .

[@tommie51462]

fitsao...Nov 27, 1963 i was Jan 16, 1963 and when Kennedy was shot i had already been to Long Beach Naval Base then to China Lake when he was shot. The bridge that we marched across led us to Nemitz Island. Great days, good memories.

[@user-by2zl3vk5y]

I was in co.415 September 63 to dec.63 when Kennedy was assassinated 😢sad day

[@stitch-xx2oo]

I graduated there in 1990 Co. 094 division in April 13. anyone from that co. say Hi.

[@jonhicks7546]

Company 094 , 1984 . Company Commander BM2 R. G. Silver , fun in the California sun ...Nimitz Bridge .

[@jss6691]

CO 316, Div 6. Sept 17, 1989 - Nov 22, 1989

[@TheTurk56523]

Checked in on the 13 of November 1989. Co 036, Div 6.

[@trotp3]

I remember marching over that bridge a million times. The gas Chamber was close by too I think.

[@joserizal1158]

Company 321 - May - July 1968. Yup lots of marching from RTC crossing that bridge to go the other side to attend class training. Jesus Beltran -USN & DEA retired

[@kellydunn7113]

Company 372, 1973

[@toddwoods582]

Woods, Company 303 , Division Five. Petty officer First Class Gurbury and Petty Officer First Class West were CC. 1989

[@MichaelforGod]

My grandfather was with company 117 1953 if anyone knows anything let me know please

[@larrygroves9749]

GOT THERE FROM ST.LOUIS MO. 11:30 AT NIGHT. COMPANY 447, SEPT. 23RD-DEC. 20TH. 1963. AT FIRE FIGHTING SCH. WHEN KENNEDY WAS SHOT. WE HAD NO CLUE WHAT WAS GOING ON. THEY DIDN'T TELL US MUCH. DIDN'T KNOW I WOULD BE IN A WAR IN IN 8 MONTHS. 3/C MACHINIST MATE ON USS TOPEKA CLG 8 AND USS SAMUEL N. MOORE DD 747.

[@Blackhawk6699]

Welcome back to San Diego

[@docmark72]

They didn't rip it all down, did they? I saw some video of how they did some sort of great job...you were there right before me. 7/90 Div4, co 187. CC was BT1 Rozokat and HT1 Williams

[@martymaranan7191]

Company # 532 9/1/1958 NTC San Diego, CA

[@johnpritchard5410]

Known familiarly in '71 as TURD-1.

[@tlomsland]

fitsao I see you graduated in November 1963. So did I. November 21, 1963 the day before John F Kennedy was assassinated on November 22 at 11:32PST. Any chance we were in the same company? I cannot remember my company number.

[@crossfire1453]

I think you meant R and O. :)

[@jgrogan02]

I remember standing watch on the ole TD-1...

[@fourfortyroadrunner]

what I don't understand is why basic is now Great Lakes, makes no sense at all. You have to heat buildings for training in winter, as opposed to the mild climate of San Diego. Certainly must be pork involved. I was at boot spring of 68, BEEP school there in fall, and off to ET-A school at TI in fall of 68. Then GCA RADAR school at Glynco, what a dump that was. Rotting wood hangers. Spent 4 years at Miramar, maintaining GCA RADAR, FPN-52, TACAN, and two QUAD FPN-36 RADAR. Also had a part time job there at auto hobby shop We used to call "this thing" the USS Neversail. During boot, we didn't spend 5 minutes "on board." Most fun day was going out to the rifle range. I still remember the MC instructor telling us that a BAR is "a nice little deer gun" and about the Thompson, "not to lay it down loaded." All we got to shoot was Garand from prone position. Company number? Are you freekin joking? First thing on my mind leaving San Diego was to FORGET that stupid boot company number. I managed to do so.

[@MrPhuselton]

+fourfortyroadrunner Glynco....remeber the welcome smell of the wood mill as you entered town?.....Hanger---old blimp hangers; one day a sign was placed on the hanger floor---DO NOT WALK HERE----seems big pieces of wood had fallen the night before. A dump---perhaps...nice memories of the trailer my new wife and I rented for my AC school time there.

[@RScott413]

My dad said the same thing about Great Lakes, but San Diego mild? Imagine a Summer boot camp where the grinder is literally cooking and your ears are peeling skin so much it is in the shape of your ear when you pull it off. Now SD is beautiful in the Spring and even Winter, but in the rare event it rained at the RTC it did so in a manner that left the foot travel soaked up to your shins.

[@snaketail1]

San Diego NTC was full of asbestos - health hazard. The Navy hired a contractor to clean it up. The contractor bought the land, took the asbestos out and turned it into a condo community. I suppose there was less asbestos in Chicago.

[@susanheardmunro8921]

My guy, Ken Munro was there at the same time you were.

[@rdbjrseattle]

1971 Company 221 “Utz’ Recrutz”

[@johnpritchard5410]

102!

[@rdbjrseattle]

@@johnpritchard5410 1971?

[@johnpritchard5410]

@@rdbjrseattle 3/11/71!

[@jimandbrycefrazier7044]

Co. 272 1961, June thru Sept.

[@kellywilson8440]

Co.075 1984 , CC AOC Timothy C. Green !

[@mr.luisanthonydivito3585]

85-209 Oct-Dec 1985

[@ballboyshop]

oops.. nope. 1962! I was at Whidbey after AC school in GA in '62

[@ajmittendorf]

Mittendorf, Semen Recruit, Company 145, Division 3, August, 1983. San Diego, California. I remember the bridge; it was wooden, then. And the U. S. S. Neversail, And right behind that, the gas chamber. Those were the days.

[@la-vs9sw]

Company 180 March 1968

[@jdixon53]

Company 153 1972....

[@mackydog99]

Co.444 19 Nov '70 to 19 Feb '71 I could fold clothes as well as anyone! 😁

[@robertbrink2240]

Hey how about clothes stops and ironing with warm water in a wisk bottle. Company 242 1964. Thanks for your service.

[@marlinspike5083]

Co. 705 1966

[@freddylou]

@jleroy33 Yeppers.....

[@kevinflaherty6713]

Sept 1983 Company 168, we get f--k over every time.

[@stevenkolodziejczyk5766]

Company 150 Sept-Nov1983

[@blueunit777]

Company 192 1985

[@RScott413]

Company 187 1985

[@raoulcarggarglin9323]

Company 005 1977

[@wrigg5006]

Company 425 1968

[@michaelobrien8301]

Born 68 sunset cliffs/ hill street area..... ANYONE have any good stories about Ocean Beach 1968 to 1983

[@freddylou]

Memories....can't forget the gas chamber on the other side of the uss recruit. The bridge that lead over to Camp Nimitz is new now. I still remember walking out of step on the old bridge...I attend in 89 Div o1.