For an eighth consecutive year, the NBA's Chicago Bulls are continuing a partnership with the United States Navy by sponsoring a recruit division at Recruit Training Command (RTC), the Navy's only boot camp, onboard Naval Station Great Lakes.

Eighty-four Chicago, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan young men enlisted in the Navy, March 14, at the Bulls practice facility -- The Advocate Center in Chicago. The enlistment ceremony was coordinated by Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Chicago and held in front of officials from the Bulls, NRD, RTC, and more than 150 parents and family members.

"Recruit Training Command truly values our relationship with the Chicago Bulls organization," said Capt. Michael Garrick, commanding officer of RTC, who issued the oath of enlistment and swore in the 84 new recruits on the Bulls hardwood practice floor. "Their support for these recruits reflects the very important bond between the nation and the United States Navy. We deeply appreciate the Bulls stalwart support of our naval service!"

The swearing-in event was organized by NRD Chicago, who recruited the young men to be part of the Bulls Recruit Division. Cmdr. Justin Beeler, commander of NRD, welcomed the family members, introduced Capt. Garrick as the enlisting officer, and thanked the Bulls organization.

"To be able to showcase the young men that have stood up and said 'I'll serve' is a wonderful opportunity for us," said Beeler. "It's great that the Bulls are willing to sponsor a recruit division each year, and when I talk to the recruits again after they have graduated from boot camp, each new Sailor usually says how much they loved having the distinction of being a member of the Bulls Division and being sponsored by the Bulls. It sets them apart from the other divisions at RTC."

Current Bull's Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, John Paxson, welcomed the recruits to the Advocate Center and told them how proud the organization is to sponsor a recruit division each year, and how important it was for the Bulls to recognize and support the new recruits and all members of the military yesterday and today.

"For the organization, in general, the fact we associate with the Navy and the young men and women who enlist is exceptional," said Paxson, who played on three of the Bulls championship teams in the 1990s.

Paxson is no stranger to supporting the military as he has a son who is a staff sergeant in the United States Marine Corps. Currently, the younger Paxson serves as a drill instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina.

"So much of our country's pride is built around those who serve, and any indication by the players and members of this organization to see what these young people commit to is special," he said. "For me personally, having a son in the military, being able to sponsor a recruit division is incredibly meaningful."

Paxson met with the recruits before the swearing-in ceremony, and told them about his son and the respect he has for all branches of the military and its service members.

"I have a fondness for the enlisted man and woman," he continued. "They're the ones that go through the tough stuff, and they're the ones that start at the bottom and really earn their way up. I don't know any of these young people we see today, but they will all have a special place in my heart because I know what they're embarking on."

That sentiment was echoed and returned by all the recruits who were sworn in at the Bulls practice facility.

"This is pretty awesome to be part of the Bulls Recruit Division," said Keylan Stocker, from Gurnee, Illinois. "It's great the Bulls want to support us, and it's great to enlist in the place where players I watch and cheer for practice. Being a member of the Bulls Division is special because we are part of a select few -- a brotherhood -- and not a lot of Sailors can say they've done that."

Fellow recruit Seth Harris, from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, said the partnership will motivate him to do well in the Bulls Division.

"I think this is a great opportunity to be part of this particular division," said Harris. "It's almost like a great gift to be able to come down here and enlist before shipping out to boot camp. This ceremony shows that the Bulls organization not only cares about the armed forces, but they respect what we do to help protect this country."

Basic training for the Chicago Bulls Division and all recruits lasts eight weeks at RTC. As the recruits train, they will display a Bulls Division flag wherever they go.

RTC Great Lakes is the Navy's only basic training location, and is known as the "Quarterdeck of the Navy."

Today, more than 30,000 recruits graduate annually from RTC and begin their Navy careers. The command is overseen by Rear Adm. Stephen C. Evans, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), and his staff from historic Building 1, the historic clock tower building on Naval Station Great Lakes. NSTC oversees 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy.

NSTC also oversees the Naval ROTC at more than 160 colleges and universities; Officer Training Command at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island; Navy Junior ROTC and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.

For more information on RTC, visit http://www.bootcamp.navy.mil/.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/, http://www.netc.navy.mil/nstc/ or http://www.facebook.com/NavalServiceTraining/.