Great Lakes Naval Training Center

Located north of Chicago on the shore of Lake Michigan is The Great Lakes Naval Training Center. This is the largest US Navy training center with a population of 30,000. All Navy recruits make their way through boot camp here and since 1911 more than 3 million sailors have been trained here. Recruit training is an intense program that changes the life, discipline, responsibility and physical makeup of each new sailor. This 8 week program transforms civilians into sailors who have the necessary skills to work on their fleet. Some of the training includes lessons in physical fitness, seamanship, firearms, firefighting and teamwork. It’s an extremely challenging program but for those who make it through it is highly rewarding.

Anyone who enters the Great Lakes Naval Training Center must learn not only the physical skills that will make them a great Navy sailor, but they also must learn the core values of the Navy. The basic core values of the Navy are honor, courage and commitment. In the training program new sailors are challenged academically, physically, and emotionally. Your life as a recruit completely changes. You will spend weeks in classes, taking exams, being pushed to physical limits, and going through inspections.

Pass-in-Review is the recruit graduation from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. It is a formal military ceremony where friends and family can celebrate the recruits’ hard work and determination. At the end of almost every week of the year is a Pass-in-Review ceremony. As you can imagine, the Chicago area becomes filled with visitors anxiously waiting to attend the ceremony. With almost 800 recruits in each graduating class the number of family and friends in attendance is overwhelming.

Many of these people need a convenient place to stay and there’s no better place in the area than the Marriott Suites Chicago Deerfield. Not only are we located close to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center but we also provide comfortable accommodations and amenities to make your stay a pleasant one. Additionally, all guests that are in town for the naval graduation will receive 15% off our regular rates. While visiting with us you will enjoy in your suite a spacious sitting area with an HDTV, wet bar, refrigerator, microwave and sleeper sofa. For those who need to stay connected we offer high speed internet access and a plug in panel for your laptop, MP3 player or your camera.

Within the hotel, guests will enjoy our fitness room, indoor and outdoor pools, whirlpool and sauna. We offer excellent on-site dining and room service too.Come see for yourself how well we take care of our guests.