Naval Training Center - Rudder Yearbook (Orlando, FL)

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HISTORY OF THE Commissioned on July 1, 1968, the Naval Training Center, Orlan- do, Florida was established to enhance the manpower training capabilities of the United States Navy. Occupying the site of the former Orlando Air Force Base, the Navy's third training center rapidly became a show place among training commands in the armed forces. The Commander, Naval Training Center, is tasked with providing basic indoctrination for officer and enlisted personnel, and primary, ad- vanced and specialized training for officer and enlisted personnel in the Regular Navy and Navy Reserve. A decision was made in the nation's capital to develop a third Naval Training Center, and, on December 6, 1966, the Honorable Robert H. B. Bladwin, then Under Secretary of the Navy, announced that the city of Orlando had been chosen as the site of the Navy's newest and most modern training facility. Orlando was selected because of its year-round climate, availability of transportation, sufficient family housing, and availability of the Orlando Air Force Base under the Department of Defense Base Closure Program. The Recruit Training Command features modern and functional buildings and presents a campus-like atmosphere. Commissioned with the Naval Training Center, the Recruit Training Command provides a smooth transition from civilian life for enlistees into the naval service. Additionally, the .Naval Training Center is host command for the Naval Training Equipment Center, which is responsible for the research, development, production, maintenance and modification of air, sea, subsurface, land and space trainers applicable to all types of military situations. Another tenant command ofthe Naval Training Center is the Naval Hospital, Orlando, currently a 220-bed facility. The hospitaI's combined medical and dental staff of over 500 supports the Naval Training Center and other military installations in the Central Florida region, as well as dependents and retirees. A modern high rise replacement hospital is planned for the future, and this facility will provide the most modern and complete medical and dental care to the ever-increasing active duty and retired military population of the Central Florida region. On November 1, 1969, the Service School Command was es- tablished. It initially comprised two schools, the Naval Advanced Undersea Weapons School lAUWSj and the Personnelman Class A School lPN f'A l. The AUWS is housed in a modern brick structure, located on 6,100 square feet of real estate and encompasses 109,000 TRAINING CENTER square feet of classrooms, laboratories and an auditorium. The PN A School is housed in the old Air Force Photo Squadron Building on the southwest shore of Lake Baldwin. Since the establishment of Service School Command, Yeoman Class A , Quartermaster Class A and the Signalman Class A Schools have been added to the command. Another tenant activity is the Navy Finance Office, Orlando, which prior to the commissioning of the Naval Training Center, was a branch of the main office at Jacksonville, Florida. The Orlando Finance Office is responsible for disbursing support to 17 military activities in the Cen- tral Florida region and renders civilian disbursing services to six organizations. Additionally, the Center hosts the Navy Printing and Publications Service Branch Office, the Defense Contract Administration Service District and the Resident Officer-in-Charge of Construction. The facilities at the Recruit Training Command are second to none in comparison with other training camps in the armed forces. There are ten recruit barracks, containing four berthing wings of three levels each, giving each building a capacity of 12 recruit companies. The berthing wings are laid out around a central restroom and shower area. The Field House complex contains the gymnasium, recreation room, reception room and the swimming pool. The recruit Mess Hall is out- fitted with the latest and most modern equipment providing the capability of feeding 9,200 in 90 minutes. The heart of the Recruit Train- ing area is the three-story Training Building, containing 57 classrooms and a recruit library. Adioining the Training Building is the Television Annex which contains a closed circuit television studio, offices, elec- tronics shop, and a classroom for the training staff. The television system includes two 25 inch monitors in each of the classrooms. The training ship Mock-up , the BLUEJACKET ONE, is another facility that doubles as an excellent training aid. It is two-thirds the size of a destroyer escort and is outfitted with actual shipboard equipment to provide realistic training in seamanship and shipwork routine. In a central location, across from the Training Building, is the Community Center which houses such conveniences as the barber shop, beauty shop, post office, telephone exchange, Navy Exchange and a banking facility for the recruits. Also in that area is the Recruit Chapel, the first chapel in the Navy designed to be used exclusively by recruits, the Recruit Training Command Administration Building, the Receiving and Outfitting Barracks and the Recruit Dispensary and Den- tal Clinic. 1

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