Orlando in Orange County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Honoring Women Sailors of the Navy’s First Co-Ed Boot Camp
Naval Training Center Orlando
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, November 20, 2021
1. Honoring Women Sailors of the Navy’s First Co-Ed Boot Camp Marker
Prior to 1972, women who enlisted as recruits were trained exclusively at U.S. Naval Training Center, Bainbridge, Maryland.
At RTC Orlando, women were trained in the same manner as the men. They were housed in a three story, air conditioned building along with 75 to 80 other recruits. Each recruit was required to pass academic and physical conditioning tests as well as frequent locker, barracks, personnel and infantry (drill) inspections.
RTC Orlando graduated approximately 188,000 women recruits during existence, and these women are the inspiration for The Blue Jacket Recruit bronze statue.
[Captions:]
Men and women trained and graduated side by side at RTC Orlando. Almost one third of all graduates at RTC Orlando were women.
Until 1974 all women Sailors trained separately — RTC Orlando was chosen as the Navy’s First Co-Ed Boot Camp.
Erected 2018.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Military • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is May 31, 1974.
Location. 28° 34.491′ N, 81° 20.268′ W. Marker is in Orlando, Florida, in Orange County. Marker can be reached from General Rees Avenue just north of Lower Park
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Graduation (here, next to this marker); Blue Jacket Recruit Bronze Statue Honoring Our Women Sailors (here, next to this marker); Day in the Life of a Recruit (here, next to this marker); The Navy & Marine Corps in Orlando Today (here, next to this marker); Arrival at Recruit Training Command Orlando (here, next to this marker); A City Within A City (here, next to this marker); Military Site History (here, next to this marker); The Lone Sailor Memorial of Central Florida (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Orlando.
Also see . . . Statue of female sailor at Blue Jacket Park honors Navy legacy, women who served at sea. (Submitted on December 2, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, November 20, 2021
2. Honoring Women Sailors of the Navy’s First Co-Ed Boot Camp Marker
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, November 20, 2021
3. The Blue Jacket Recruit bronze statue
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, November 20, 2021
4. The Lone Sailor and The Blue Jacket Recruit bronze statues
Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 2, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 990 times since then and 282 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 2, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
