The Navy will shorten its boot camp from 10 weeks to nine beginning with the class entering in January.
The new timeline will still cover all the material and modules included in the 10-week boot camp within the shortened timeline, with the service deciding nine weeks would be more efficient, Mack Jamieson, spokesman for Naval Service Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill. told USNI News.
The shortened timeline will help with managing space for recruit classes, such as the barracks and galleys, Jamieson said. The 10-week course had extra time that will be eliminated to create the nine-week timeline, he said.
The Navy extended boot camp from eight weeks to ten in 2022 to make training space more life skills and professional development, according to Military.com.
Although the decision comes after the Navy met its recruiting goals for the first time in two years, the decision to shorten boot camp was unrelated, Jamieson said.
The new schedule will have more emphasis on core competencies, including firefighting, seamanship, watchstanding and “warrior toughness,” according to a Navy release. Sailor for Life, which focuses on resilience and mental toughness, will also be part of the nine weeks.
The curriculum was redone after feedback from training experts and staff at Recruit Training Command, according to the release.
“From the deckplate to the classroom, our team has worked hard to identify efficiencies that uphold our high standards while advancing the CNO’s vision for a capable and ready Navy,” Rear Adm. Craig Mattingly, commander of Naval Service Training Command, said in the release. “This optimization doesn’t just shorten the time-to-train; it enhances our Recruits’ ability to transition seamlessly into the fleet and contribute immediately.”
