RTC Museum, North Chicago

About RTC Museum

RTC Museum in North Chicago celebrates the Pass-In-Review graduation ceremony, a formal military event honoring recruits' completion of Navy boot camp. Visitors attend the recruit Family Welcome Center to watch newly trained sailors graduate and participate in this ceremony that ties Naval traditions to the future of the service. More than thirty thousand recruits graduate annually from the Navy's only boot camp at Naval Station Great Lakes. The facility has prepared men and women for Naval service since its founding in 1911. The welcome center provides maps, graduation dates, division information, and directions for visitors planning to attend. Families and friends can view graduations in person or livestream the Thursday morning ceremony through the venue's Facebook or YouTube channels. The center features exhibits on naval history and recruit training programs. Graduations occur weekly throughout the year, allowing families to witness their recruits' transition into the Navy and explore the museum's collections documenting boot camp traditions.