One thing you won’t get is lots of fresh air! Yes, that’s right; most of the Navy basic training takes place indoors. There are indoor marching drills, indoor shooting, indoor confidence courses, and more. This may seem a bit unusual, but actually makes a great deal of sense for the Navy. When you are in the Navy, most of the activities take place inside the ship or submarine, and this is the reasoning behind the high rate of indoor training programs.Somewhat surprising is that unlike other branches of the military, the Navy only has one training location in the country. It is on the western shores of Lake Michigan, at the Great Lakes Naval Training Centre, which is half way between Chicago and Milwaukee. You can learn more about the center and what takes place there by reading the free Military Pre-Enlistment Guide.

Shape Up
There is plenty you can do in advance of Boot Camp to get yourself in shape physically and mentally before your formal training begins. There is a lot of information available on the internet and the website previously mentioned, such as what the physical standards are and how the drill ceremonies work. One thing that will save you time is simply to memorize the rank structure before you get there.

If you still find you have time on your hands in advance of Boot Camp, then learn the core values of the Navy too. The course is very classroom intensive so you’ll have to get used to using your brain if it has been ‘resting’ for a while.

Follow the rules
Before you get to Boot Camp you will receive a list of things that you should bring and things you should not – this is military service they are talking about, so they don’t usually put things on lists if they are irrelevant. Follow the list. If there is an item that they say do not bring, then do not take it as the likelihood is that it will be taken away from you when you get there.

Surviving Boot Camp is all about doing as you are told, working hard, and keeping a low profile, so anything you can do to stay below the instructor’s radar is a good thing. Taking clothes, kits, and equipment that are not allowed will only draw negative attention to you before you begin the real training.

Swimming
As you would hope, being able to swim in the Navy is a good thing. If it all goes wrong, you will be surrounded by water! So if you are a weak swimmer, then try to get some practice before Boot Camp as you will be assessed when you arrive. If you are put in the ‘Kiddy Pool’ it is not great, but there are worse punishments in the world.

Remember, the organization is designed to train people to join the Navy, not to intimidate and fail them – it is all about developing people and helping them to learn and acquire the skills they will need to function successfully in the Navy. Whether indoors or not, Navy basic training will be hard work; but the rewards of successfully completing the program are undeniable.

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The Basic Combat Training Course (BCT)
The Basic Combat Training Course (BCT) is a nine week journey that aims to transform a civilian into a soldier. This is of course a dramatic journey, punctuated by extreme challenges and a great deal of information to take on board. You will be joining an organization with a lot of history and a very specific culture, so it will be an unforgettable time. You will be a little shell-shocked at the beginning but military life, the pace, the energy and the rewards, will quickly become normal. If you’re thinking about enlisting, read the Free Military Enlistment Guide before you visit a recruiter.

Nine Weeks are pain – but also reward
The nine week course covers an introductory week when you will be issued with clothing and equipment and then taught how to put it all together and wear it correctly. There will be lots of dormitory inspections and drill parades, intermixed with plenty of physical fitness training. This introductory week is sometimes called Reception Week.

The Phases
After Reception week the real training begins; you will already be used to early morning starts and long days. You will be amazed at just how much these trainers can squeeze into one day. Phase 1 is the Red Phase and teaches recruits about Nuclear Biological and Chemical defense, Landmine Defense and there is also some rappelling on the confidence tower, which is great fun. The Army’s Seven Core Values are also covered at this stage. There are regular fitness tests too, but that will be a part of military life forever, so it is no big deal.

Phase 2 or White Phase, covers marksmanship and more rappelling on the Warrior Tower this time, you will undertake a tactical foot march and undergo situational enemy awareness training simulations using some of the best training aides available. At this stage you will deploy into the field for the first time and take part in a tactical field exercise. Already you will be closely bonded with new found friends in your platoon and you will be working well as a team.

Phase 3, the Blue phase goes into more detail on weapons and includes use of hand grenades and night vision equipment. You will get your hands on the .50 caliber machine gun and various other automatic weapons. Spending more time on the ranges will hone your skills and you will also take part in a 10 and 15 km tactical march.

See the change in yourself
You will really have noticed a change in yourself by now, feeling fitter and taking pride in all that you do, you are getting close to graduation and starting your time serving you country at the sharp end. You will have made a commitment that will make you a better person and gain the respect of your fellow citizens. To gain more information about what to expect, read the Free Military Enlistment Guide, which provides a wealth of information for anyone interested in joining the military.

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Reassuringly, obtaining a security clearance is not an easy thing.  This can be a bit of a pain if you are keen to start a great new job, but it is dependent on obtaining clearance – but it should reassure you that not just anyone can get access to important establishments and information.

 The first rule is that you cannot apply for security clearance yourself; it has to be done for you by a prospective employer, such as the Armed Forces or the Government.  The process can be quite costly so it won’t be done unless it is necessary.

 Levels of clearance

In the US there are generally three levels of clearance: Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret.  Let’s take them in turn.

Confidential: information which if it fell into the wrong hands could, in some measure be damaging to national security.  This is the most basic level of clearance and is afforded to most military personnel.  It must be renewed every 15 years.

Secret: Any of this kind of information falling into the wrong hands could cause grave damage to the national security, and as such it is renewed every 10 years. 

Top secret:  This is pretty much everything else and as it could be considered to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security if in the wrong hands, then this level is renewed every 5 years.

Obtaining the clearance

There are a lot of background checks that need to be carried out before the clearance is granted and in some cases this can take up to two years, so bear this in mind if it is a job application you have just filed. 

Applicants are first fingerprinted and then they undergo the Personnel Security Questionnaire (Sf-86).  The Defense Security Service then conducts detailed background checks.  There are then 13 factors that are assessed and evaluation by a security committee.  These factors include things like substance abuse, criminal record, mental disorders, and detailed family history.

Prepare yourself

The process can be fairly intrusive so don’t be surprised if some dark secrets are uncovered.  The investigators will talk to family and neighbors; they will interview you and ask some searching questions.  So be wary of quitting a job and hoping to take on another one that requires security clearance, as you may not be granted it.

There are various firms that offer guarantees of obtaining a security clearance for you; these are scams and you shouldn’t give these companies money.  Nobody has a guarantee of getting through the system.

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