How Long Is Navy Boot Camp? The 2026 Week-by-Week Timeline
Navy boot camp lasts 9 weeks. It takes place at Recruit Training Command (RTC) in Great Lakes, Illinois, which the Navy describes as its only enlisted training facility. The Navy cut boot camp from 10 weeks to 9 effective January 2025, so guides that still say 10 weeks are out of date. RTC's own schedule starts with a few processing days (P-Days) before Training Week 1.
Here is what each week holds, the fitness standards you need to ship and to graduate, and how to show up ready.
Navy boot camp timeline, week by week
| Week | What happens |
|---|---|
| P-Days | Arrival and in-processing: pay and admin, medical and dental screening, haircuts, first uniform issue and an initial fitness event. |
| Week 1 | Water survival training and the third class swim qualification. Every Sailor who graduates RTC must be a qualified swimmer. |
| Week 2 | Navy ships and aircraft, naval history and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. |
| Week 3 | Sexual Assault Prevention and Response training, basic seamanship such as line handling and watch standing, and man overboard drills. |
| Week 4 | Damage control and firefighting basics, the confidence chamber, and a Recruit Division Commander fitness assessment: timed planks, push-ups and a 1.5-mile run. |
| Week 5 | Weapons handling and the small arms trainer. |
| Week 6 | Damage control testing and hands-on fire team training. |
| Week 7 | The firefighting assessment and the final personnel inspection. |
| Week 8 | The capstone events: the official Physical Fitness Assessment and Battle Stations 21, a 12-hour test aboard the USS Trayer training simulator. |
| Week 9 | Graduation at the Pass-in-Review ceremony. |
Source: the RTC Recruits page.
The fitness test you need to pass to ship
Before you can begin basic training, Navy.com says you must take a Physical Readiness Test and meet these standards:
| Age | Sex | Push-ups (2 min) | Plank | 1.5-mile run |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 to 19 | Male | 46 | 2 x 30 sec | 12:15 |
| 17 to 19 | Female | 20 | 2 x 30 sec | 14:45 |
| 20 to 24 | Male | 42 | 2 x 30 sec | 13:15 |
| 20 to 24 | Female | 17 | 2 x 30 sec | 15:15 |
Navy.com lists ages 17 to 24. If you are older, ask your recruiter for your standard.
Fitness at boot camp
Physical training at boot camp is one hour a day, six days a week, and you must pass a Physical Readiness Test to graduate. In Week 8 you take the official Physical Fitness Assessment, and RTC requires recruits to be within approved body composition measurements. Across the fleet, the Navy's 2026 body composition check is a waist-to-height ratio first; see where you stand with our Navy body fat calculator.
What if you fail the fitness test at boot camp?
According to the RTC FAQ, a recruit who fails the baseline Physical Fitness Assessment gets another attempt within 72 to 96 hours. Pass the retest and you move to a new division with a one-week delay. Fail the retest and, depending on the outcome, you are placed in a special division to get up to the standard or you are separated. Recruits who fail a later fitness test may go to the Fitness Improvement Team (FIT) or be set back three or four weeks. That is the cheapest reason to arrive fit.
How to prepare for Navy boot camp
Train the three things you will be tested on: push-ups, the plank and the 1.5-mile run. Score yourself against the full Navy tables with our Navy PRT calculator, then follow our free Navy PRT training program. For event-by-event coaching, read how to max your Navy PRT and our Navy PRT standards guide. Every Sailor has to pass the swim qualification, so time in the water before you ship is time well spent.
Graduation and what comes next
Families can attend Pass-in-Review. Each recruit may invite three or four guests depending on the size of the training group, and every guest age 3 and older must be on the access list. After boot camp you go to your first duty station or to A School, depending on the job you selected.
Sources: Navy.com, Navy boot camp; U.S. Navy press release, December 11, 2024; Recruit Training Command, Recruits; Recruit Training Command, FAQ.
Comparing branches? Marine boot camp runs about 13 weeks, Army basic training 10 weeks and Air Force basic training 7.5 weeks. See Marine, Army and Air Force basic training.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Navy boot camp in 2026?
Nine weeks at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Illinois. The Navy shortened boot camp from 10 weeks to 9 effective January 2025.
Where is Navy boot camp?
Recruit Training Command (RTC) in Great Lakes, Illinois, which the Navy describes as its only enlisted training facility.
What fitness standards do you need to ship to Navy boot camp?
Navy.com lists a Physical Readiness Test before you begin basic training. For ages 17 to 19, men need 46 push-ups in two minutes, two 30-second planks and a 12:15 1.5-mile run; women need 20 push-ups, two 30-second planks and a 14:45 run. Ages 20 to 24 are in the table above.
What happens if you fail the fitness test at Navy boot camp?
A recruit who fails the baseline Physical Fitness Assessment gets a retest within 72 to 96 hours. Passing the retest means a new division and a one-week delay. Failing the retest means a special division to get up to the standard, or separation. Recruits who fail a later fitness test may go to the Fitness Improvement Team or be set back three or four weeks.
Can family attend Navy boot camp graduation?
Yes. Each recruit may invite three or four guests to Pass-in-Review, depending on the size of the training group, and every guest age 3 and older must be on the access list.
