A Foundation Was Laid on This Day – August 22, 1986

This blog post is a reflection on a day that holds deep significance for me—August 22, 1986, the day I graduated from Navy boot camp at Great Lakes. It was a day that marked the beginning of a journey shaped by the core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment, values that have guided me throughout my life and career.

An expanded version of this post was originally written on my WordPress blog, Command Performance Leadership, on August 21, 2016. For those interested in a more detailed exploration of this pivotal chapter in my life, you can read it in its entirety here.

As you read, I hope you'll find inspiration in the lessons and experiences that have shaped my journey.

In the vast expanse of naval history, there lies a date that holds deep significance for me—a date that shaped the course of my life and career. That date is August 22, 1986, the day I graduated from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center, often referred to as the "Quarterdeck of the Navy." Located in Waukegan, Illinois, Great Lakes is the Navy’s only basic training facility, where young men and women are molded into disciplined, physically fit, and fundamentally trained sailors. For many who have passed through its gates, it’s affectionately known as "Great Mistakes," but for me, it was the beginning of a profound transformation.

The journey began in the middle of June 1986, when I arrived at Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes, filled with a mix of anxiety, excitement, and uncertainty. At just 17 years old, I was taking a monumental step—leaving behind the familiar comforts of home and stepping into the rigid discipline of military life. It was a leap into the unknown, and my mind was a whirl of thoughts and emotions.

Navy boot camp is not just about physical training; it’s an intense, all-encompassing experience designed to integrate recruits into a cohesive unit. From the moment we arrived, we were thrust into a diverse group of individuals with whom we would eat, sleep, learn, and grow as a team for the next eight weeks. Teamwork became our lifeline, and leadership was quickly forged in the fires of shared challenges and relentless discipline. The ship was underway, and there was no turning back.

Before the real training could begin, we had to endure a period known as Processing Week, or "P-Days," where time seemed to stand still. These days were filled with medical and administrative procedures—long marches back and forth from RTC to Main Side, where we were poked, prodded, and processed for the rigors ahead. It was a week of cold, dreary rain, and the atmosphere was heavy with anticipation. Amidst the misery of endless waiting, I longed for the ‘hurry-up’ part to begin, eager to dive into the challenges that lay ahead.

As grueling as those early days were, they have become some of the most memorable of my life. They were the days when the foundation for my future was laid—a foundation built on the core values of the United States Navy: Honor, Courage, and Commitment.

Honor became the guiding principle by which I would conduct myself in all relationships, both personal and professional. It was about integrity, responsibility, and a deep sense of duty to my fellow Americans. Courage was the strength to meet the demands of my profession, to make tough decisions in the best interest of the Navy and the nation, even when personal consequences loomed large. And Commitment was the unwavering dedication to the team, the mission, and the values that had been instilled in me during those formative weeks.

The Core Values of the United States Navy

Honor: When we say “bear true faith and allegiance,” we are promising to:

• Conduct ourselves in the highest ethical manner in all relationships
• Deal honestly and truthfully with others
• Make honest recommendations and accept those junior to us
• Encourage new ideas and deliver the bad news, even when it is unpopular
• Abide by an uncompromising code of integrity, taking responsibility for our actions and keeping our word
• Fulfill or exceed our legal and ethical responsibilities in our public and personal lives 24 hours a day
• Be mindful of the privilege to serve our fellow Americans

Courage: When we say “support and defend,” we are promising to:

• Meet the demands of our profession and the mission when it is hazardous, demanding or otherwise difficult
• Make decisions in the best interest of the Navy and the nation, without regard to personal consequences
• Meet all challenges while adhering to a higher standard of personal conduct and decency
• Be loyal to our nation, ensuring the resources entrusted to us are used in an honest, careful and efficient way
• Have the moral and mental strength to do what is right, even in the face of personal or professional adversity

Commitment: When we say “obey the orders,” we are promising to:

• Demand respect up and down the chain of command
• Care for the safety, professional, personal, and spiritual well-being of the people entrusted to us
• Show respect toward all people without regard to race, religion or gender
• Treat each individual with human dignity
• Be committed to positive change and constant improvement
• Exhibit the highest degree of moral character, technical excellence, quality, and competence in what we have been trained to do
• Work together as a team to improve the quality of our work, our people, and ourselves

The Navy’s core values became the ingredients that transformed me into a sailor, and ultimately the cornerstones of my life and career. Through every push-up, every inspection, every exam, I was tested and tempered, emerging not just as a sailor, but as someone who was highly motivated, detail-oriented, and deeply proud of the service I was now a part of.

My boot camp and Navy experience culminated in my having the following three valuable attributes:

1. Highly motivated to overcome all challenges; having the self-discipline to achieve all tasks completely and successfully.
2. Attention to detail, and being detail-oriented. Following direction and learning to listen, while having situational awareness at all times.
3. Pride and professionalism. To always showcase respect for people and resources. To carry myself with honor, and to have integrity in all that I do. And, to always be committed to the team, organization and community I belong.

Graduation day, August 22, 1986, was a moment of immense pride. As our recruit company assembled for the pass-in-review ceremony, the culmination of our collective efforts was on full display. In just eight short weeks, we had transformed from anxious recruits into confident, disciplined sailors, ready to serve our country with honor, courage, and commitment.

This day is as significant to me as my birthday, for it marks the official beginning of my Navy career—a career that would shape my character, define my values, and guide me through countless challenges and successes. Today, as I reflect on that journey, I do so with deep pride and gratitude for the experiences that began on that rainy day in June 1986 and culminated on August 22, a day when a foundation was laid that would support me for the rest of my life.

As I look back on that pivotal day, I’m reminded that the lessons learned in those eight weeks at Great Lakes extended far beyond my time in the Navy. The values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment have served as guiding lights throughout my life, influencing my decisions and actions in both personal and professional spheres. Every challenge faced, every obstacle overcome, traces back to the foundation laid on August 22, 1986.

To those who are embarking on their own journeys, whether in the military or elsewhere, know that the foundations you build today will shape your future in ways you may not yet comprehend. Embrace the challenges, honor the commitments you make, and have the courage to face the unknown. The path may be difficult, but the rewards are immeasurable.

This post is a tribute not just to my own experiences, but to all who have passed through the gates of Great Lakes and those who continue to serve our nation with unwavering dedication. Your service and sacrifice are honored and remembered.

Fair winds and following seas.