Navy to cut boot camp from 10 weeks to nine

The Navy is cutting its Basic Military Training program from 10 weeks to nine weeks, effective next year, in an attempt to better streamline curriculum.

While the Navy’s Basic Military Training, known as boot camp, historically has spanned eight weeks, the service extended the program to 10 weeks in January 2022 to accommodate more life skills training to help sailors adjust from civilian to Navy life.

But now, the Navy is revamping its curriculum to “eliminate redundant training” and integrate those lessons instead throughout the program in a more intentional way, spokesman for Naval Service Training Command Lt. Cmdr. Mack Jamieson told Navy Times.

The Warrior Toughness Program, which seeks to educate sailors on how to perform in stressful situations, as well as some physical and professional development training, will now be condensed during recruits’ time at boot camp, Jamieson said.

“Our focus is on delivering a streamlined yet robust training experience that equips our sailors with the essential skills they need to succeed in the fleet,” Rear Adm. Craig Mattingly, commander of Naval Service Training Command, said in a Navy news release. “This change will help us achieve that, providing a rigorous curriculum that ensures readiness while enabling recruits to join the fleet faster.”

These changes, which were made following feedback from Recruit Training Command staff and training experts, align with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s navigation plan, the Navy said.

“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,” Mattingly said. “This optimization doesn’t just shorten the time-to-train; it enhances our recruits’ ability to transition seamlessly into the fleet and contribute immediately.”

The updates come following challenges for the Navy when it comes to attracting new recruits and missing its accession targets for the first time ever in fiscal year 2023. However, the service announced in October it surpassed its recruiting training goals for fiscal year 2024.

According to Navy officials, the service accomplished this feat through “data-driven decision-making,” cutting down the time to process medical waivers and “expanding opportunities.”

Changes to expand the pool of eligible applicants include allowing those without a high school diploma or General Educational Development credential to enlist, as long as those applicants score a 50 or higher on the Armed Forces Qualification Test.

“The Navy is focused on thoughtfully increasing recruiting numbers while maintaining historically high retention rates,” Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said in a statement in October. “We are doing this by improving the efficiency of our recruiting enterprise and expanding the pool of applicants who can join our team.”