About Us
Great Lakes is much like a city. With an average population of over 25,000,it contains more people than North Chicago, the city that surrounds it.
Our mission here at Naval Station Great Lakes is simple: Deliver highly skilled, technically proficient, disciplined and motivated Sailors to the fleet.
Naval Station Great Lakes has been transforming civilians into Sailors for nearly 100 years. From its founding in 1911, Naval Station Great Lakes has maintained its position as the Navy's largest training facility with more than 25,000 military and civilian personnel working, training, and living here.
Naval Station Great Lakes is a dynamic environment where training occurs 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It continues to be a preferred duty station, which attracts the finest Sailors in the Navy to serve as Recruit Division Commanders, instructors, and support positions throughout the base.
Too much history can, unfortunately, create a misconception that Great Lakes' best days are in the past. Nothing could be further from the truth. The current Recruit Training Command, for instance, has undergone a dramatic recapitalization program that has created a premiere training environment that is unmatched. Millions of dollars have been spent on modern barracks, dining facilities, classrooms and office buildings. Fifteen service schools are sited at Great Lakes. All Navy recruits are now trained here, both men and women. Naval Station Great Lakes truly is a place of challenge and excitement.