Northeast 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

Inscription.
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. It

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is in Northeast Orlando. It can be reached from General Rees Avenue just north of Lower Park Road, on the right when traveling north. Marker located within Blue Jacket Park and is placed on the site of the former Orlando Naval Training Center parade grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3720 Lower Park Rd, Orlando FL 32814, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Florida.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

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

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, November 20, 2021

2. Honoring Women Sailors of the Navy’s First Co-Ed Boot Camp Marker

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.)

The Blue Jacket Recruit bronze statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, November 20, 2021

3. The Blue Jacket Recruit bronze statue

The Lone Sailor and The Blue Jacket Recruit bronze statues image. Click for full size.

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 July 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 2, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 2,716 times since then and 179 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.