Branch: U.S. Navy
Location: Great Lakes, Illinois
Installation Type: Naval Station
Status: Active

Overview

Naval Station Great Lakes is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, approximately 35 miles north of Chicago, in North Chicago, Lake County, Illinois. It is the Navy’s only boot camp – Basic Military Training (BMT) for all enlisted sailors – making it one of the most important Navy installations in the United States. The Recruit Training Command (RTC) annually graduates approximately 35,000-40,000 sailors who pass through the “Great Lakes Naval Training Center” in their basic military transformation. Great Lakes is also home to the Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) and other technical training programs. The installation was established in 1911 and is often called “The Quarterdeck of the Navy.”

Mission & Units

• Primary Mission: Conduct Recruit Training Command (RTC) basic military training for all U.S. Navy enlisted recruits; provide initial technical training programs through the Center for Surface Combat Systems and associated commands.
• Major Units: Recruit Training Command (RTC) – sole Navy boot camp; Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS); Navy Service School Command; Naval Health Clinic Great Lakes
• Tenant Units: Naval Health Clinic Great Lakes (full medical); Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS); various Navy training commands and schools; A School programs

Location & Access

• Nearest Major City: Chicago, IL (population approximately 2.7 million; metro approximately 9.5 million) – approximately 35 miles south; Waukegan, IL – immediately adjacent; Kenosha, WI – approximately 10 miles north
• Nearest Commercial Airport: O’Hare International Airport (ORD) – approximately 45 miles south; Midway International Airport (MDW) – approximately 55 miles south; Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) – approximately 45 miles north
• Gate Access: Main gate on Sheridan Road; multiple gates; CAC/military ID required; visitor passes at Visitor Control Center; boot camp graduation ceremonies allow family visitors with coordination

Population

• Active Duty Personnel: Approximately 15,000 (including large recruit population averaging 7,000+ recruits at any time)
• Family Members: Approximately 8,000 (permanent party; recruits are in training, not accompanied)
• Civilian Employees: Approximately 5,000
• Total Installation Population: Approximately 28,000

Key Facilities

• Medical: Naval Health Clinic Great Lakes – full primary care, dental, behavioral health; specialty referrals to Naval Medical Center Portsmouth via medevac or to civilian hospitals in Chicago metro (Northwestern, Advocate, Loyola University Medical Center); excellent Chicago-area specialist access
• Commissary: Yes – commissary on base
• Exchange (PX/BX/NEX): Yes – Navy Exchange (NEX) and facilities
• Fitness & Recreation: Fitness centers; pools; gymnasium; bowling; auto skills; Chicago metro provides world-class cultural, entertainment, and sports amenities; Lake Michigan waterfront access; Waukegan Harbor; North Shore communities of Lake County are excellent
• Schools: North Chicago Community Unit School District 187 and Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 serve some military families; many military families choose to live in North Shore communities served by higher-rated districts (Zion, Winthrop Harbor, Gurnee); no DoDEA schools; school selection is important planning consideration
• Childcare: Child Development Center on base; waitlists common; register early; Lake County has private childcare options
• Veterinary Services: Veterinary Treatment Facility on base; wellness and preventive care
• Legal Assistance / JAG: Legal Assistance Office, Naval Station Great Lakes; appointment-based

Housing

• On-Post Housing: Navy Housing on base; privatized family housing; multiple neighborhoods; condition generally good; on-base housing is competitive given the large population
• Average Wait Time: 30-60 days typical; Lake County area off-post housing is extensive
• Off-Post Housing: North Chicago, Waukegan, Zion, Winthrop Harbor, Gurnee, Grayslake, and Kenosha (WI, just across the state line) are popular with military families; Gurnee (home of Six Flags Great America) and Winthrop Harbor popular for school quality; average rent approximately $1,400-$2,000/month for 3-bedroom home; Lake County, IL is moderate in cost; note Illinois state income tax does apply to all income; Wisconsin (Kenosha) is an option for lower taxes
• BAH Rate Reference: Check current BAH rates at Defense Travel Management Office (dtmo.mil)

PCS & Newcomer Info

• Sponsorship Program: Contact gaining command; RTC staff and CSCS commands have sponsorship programs; boot camp assignment often surprises sailors with the Chicago area quality of life
• In-Processing: Naval Station Great Lakes in-processing; typically 2-3 days; RTC staff in-processing includes recruit training familiarization
• EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program): Fleet and Family Support Center; enrollment required; Chicago metro provides outstanding specialist access including Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and Northwestern Medicine

Local Area & Quality of Life

• Climate: Humid continental; hot humid summers (average high 83F/28C in July); cold winters (average low 15F/-9C in January); significant snow November through March; Lake Michigan creates “lake effect” snow potential and moderates temperatures somewhat; spring and fall are pleasant
• Cost of Living: Moderate; Lake County is more affordable than Chicago city but more expensive than some Midwest locations; Illinois has relatively high overall taxes; Wisconsin border proximity offers some tax advantages
• Nearby Attractions: Chicago (35 miles) – world-class city with Art Institute, Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Chicago deep-dish pizza, Blues/Jazz, Cubs/White Sox/Bulls/Bears; Six Flags Great America (Gurnee, 5 miles); Illinois Beach State Park; Lake Michigan waterfront; Milwaukee (55 miles); Wisconsin Dells water parks (90 miles); Indiana Dunes National Park (60 miles); Chicago music and food scene is world-class
• Spouse Employment: Lake County and Chicago metro offer extensive employment; Chicago is one of the nation’s top employment markets in healthcare (Northwestern, Advocate Aurora, University of Chicago), technology, finance, manufacturing, and education; Lake County itself has AbbVie, Baxter International, Abbott Labs, and Walgreens corporate headquarters; one of the best employment markets near a Navy installation in the United States; A&FRC / FFSC assists

Contact & Resources

• Official Website: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrmilw/installations/nsgreatlakes.html
• Main Installation Phone: (847) 688-3500
• MWR Website: https://greatlakes.navymwr.org (verify current URL)
• ACS / Fleet & Family / Airman & Family Readiness: Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC), Naval Station Great Lakes; (847) 688-3603; relocation, financial readiness, employment, family support; recruit family support programs

Last updated: 2026-02-23
Sources: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrmilw/installations/nsgreatlakes.html; https://installations.militaryonesource.mil/in-depth-overview/naval-station-great-lakes; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NavalStationGreat_Lakes