Advancing Navy expertise all around the nation Training Centers

Training plays a key role in America’s Navy. So whether you’re joining right out of high school or after earning a college degree, you’ll have the opportunity to advance yourself. At all stages of your career. Through any of a variety of Naval Training Centers and training programs, depending on your position in America’s Navy.

Your training: hands-on. Your trainers: the most knowledgeable around, with real-world experience. Your equipment: beyond cutting edge.

No matter what you do or where you go, you’ll get the best training around. In fact, the Navy has been recognized as one of the world’s top training organizations by Training magazine. The magazine’s list evaluated demonstrable results, innovation, success factors, training strategically linked to organization goals, and leadership commitment to development and training.

“The mission of our organization is to maintain, train, and equip mission-ready naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining the freedom of the seas. Training is an asymmetric advantage that enables us to maintain a strong and capable maritime force to ensure security, stability and trust around the world.” – Rear Adm. Joseph Kilkenny, commander, Naval Education and Training Command (NETC)

Training Centers that Reflect the Mission

If you enlist, your first training will take place at the Recruit Training Command (RTC) in Great Lakes, Ill. While it’s called boot camp, it’s really a huge campus that includes both classroom and lots of hands-on training. Training innovations here include Fundamental Applied Skills Training (FAST) and Virtual Environments for Ship and Shore Experiential Learning (VESSEL).

FAST helps recruits become better readers. VESSEL is a video-game-based casualty response training system that combines role-playing, educational and real-time strategy games.

If you’re on the officer track, you’ll begin at either Officer Candidate School (OCS) or Officer Development School (ODS). OCS is a 12-week course in Newport, R.I., tailored to train and prepare college graduates to become commissioned as Navy line Officers. ODS is a five-week course, also in Newport, tailored to train already-commissioned Officers to become Staff Corps Officers.

After that, you could take classes and participate in intense training throughout your career, especially if you’re in a highly technical field.

Advanced, Specialized Training

Not all Enlisted careers require skill training, but for those that do, advanced training begins at “A” School. Through extensive classes and on-the-job training, you will learn the fundamentals of your chosen technical field. You could even earn an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. For a list of all training available, you can consult the Catalog of Navy Training Courses (CANTRAC).

Rest assured that, while you’re at “A” School, you won’t always be in class or studying. You will have some free time after classes and weekends to check out the area and take part in activities. You may get the chance to check out where the first English settlers landed in Dahlgren, Va., or enjoy some fresh seafood in Bethesda, Md. Or you could swim with the dolphins in Panama City, Fla., play golf in Pensacola, Fla., or explore the world-famous San Diego Zoo.

Here’s a sampling of the “A” Schools in the U.S.

Submarine Learning Center
Groton, Conn.

Center for Surface Combat Systems
Dahlgren, Va.

Center for Personal and Professional Development
Virginia Beach, Va.

Center for Security Forces
Virginia Beach, Va.

Center for Service Support
Newport, R.I.

Center for Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD)/Diving
Panama City, Fla.

Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training
Center for Information Dominance
Naval Education and Training Command
Pensacola, Fla.

Center for Seabees and Facilities Engineering
Port Hueneme, Calif.

Naval Chaplaincy School and Center
Ft. Jackson, S.C.

Training Support Center
Great Lakes, Ill.

Training Support Center
Hampton Roads, Va.

Training Support Center
San Diego, Ca.