Naval Training Center - Rudder Yearbook (Orlando, FL)

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Commander B. J. Suse Executive Officer Recru't Tra'ning Command

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Captain William G. Fisher, Jr. Commanding Officer Recruit Training Command

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HISTORY OF THE TRAINING CENTER 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 tormer Orlando Air Force Base, the Navyls third training center rapidly became a show place among training commands in the armed forces. The Commander, Naval Training Center, is tasked with 'tproviding basic indoctrination tor officer and enlisted personnel, and primary, ad- vanced and specialized training for otticer and enlisted personnel in the Regular Navy and Navy ReserveJ' A decision was made in the nationls capital to develop a third Naval Training Center. and, on December 6, 1966, the Honorable Robert H. B. Bladwin, then Under Secretary at the Navy, announced that the city ot Orlando had been chosen as the site of the Navy's newest and most modern training tacility. Orlando was selected because at its year-round climate, availability 0! transportation, sutticient tamily housing, and availability oi 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 lite tor enlistees into the naval service. Additionally, the Naval Training Center is host command tor the Naval Training Equipment Center, which is responsible for the research, development, production, maintenance and modification of air, sea, subsurtace, land and space trainers applicable to all types of military situations. Another tenant command at the Naval Training Center is the Naval Hospital, Orlando; currently a 220-bed facility. The hospitalls 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 lor 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 lAUWSl and the Personnelman Class A School lPN uAl'l. The AUWS is housed in a modern brick structure, located on 6,100 square teet of real estate and encompasses 109,000 square teet oi classrooms, laboratories and an auditorium. The PM uA School is housed in the old Air Force Photo Squadron Building on the southwest shore at Lake Baldwin. Since the establishment of Service School Command, Yeoman Class 0A , Quartermaster Class A and the Signalman Class All Schools have been added to the command. Another tenant activity is the Navy Finance Ottice, Orlando, which prior to the commissioning of the Naval Training Center, was a branch at the main ottice at Jacksonville, Florida. The Orlando Finance Ottice is responsible tor 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 Ottice, the Defense Contract Administration Service District and the Resident OHicer-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 tour berthing wings of three levels each, giving each building a capacity oi 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- titted with the latest and most modern equipment providing the capability of feeding 9,200 in 90 minutes. The heart ol the Recruit Train- ing area is the three-story Training Building, containing 57 classrooms and a recruit library. Adjoining the Training Building is the Television Annex which contains a closed circuit television studio, offices, elec- tronics shop, and a classroom tor the training stall. The television system includes two 25 inch monltors in each oi the classrooms. The training ship liMock-up , the BLUEJACKET ONE, is another facility that doubles as an excellent training aid. It is two-thirds the size at a destroyer escort and is outtitted with actual shipboard equipment to provide realistic training in seamanship and shipwork routine. In a central location, across lrom 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 tacility tor the recruits. Also in that area is the Recruit Chapel, the tirst chapel in the Navy designed to be used exclusively by recruits, the Recruit Training Command Administration Building, the Receiving and Outtitting Barracks and the Recruit Dispensary and Den- tal Clinic.