Navy foreign officers from the Naval Staff College in Newport, Rhode Island, toured Recruit Training Command, Nov. 10.

Since its inception in 1972, more than 2,300 naval officers representing 134 countries have graduated from the NSC. Bringing together a group of distinguished international officers from diverse cultures and ideologies who share maritime traditions, experiences, and challenges invariably leads to a unique and longlasting camaraderie among students, staff, and faculty. The knowledge gained in the classroom at the NSC, when combined with the professional development experiences offered, produces the finest graduate-level education for mid-grade officers in the world.

Today, NSC graduates continue to distinguish themselves in positions at the highest levels of their services. To date, 327 graduates have attained the rank of flag officer and 136 have served as chief of service, with 24 currently serving in the latter capacity.

The NSC is vital in expanding understanding and cooperation among the world's sea services. As coalition forces are increasingly summoned to respond to conflicts and promote peace around the world, the role of NSC gains in significance. The bonds of friendship which develop in Newport lead to trust and confidence vital to maritime security cooperation around the world.

"Part of the mission of the Naval Staff College is to introduce foreign officers and future international leaders to our nation's government, education, and military institutions," said U.S. Navy Capt. Mark Turner, director of the NSC. "We can't think of a finer venue than to introduce these officers to how we take a recruit and make them a Sailor."

The 30 officers from 26 different countries and the United States toured the U.S. Navy's only boot camp to observe the kind of training recruits go through daily over eight weeks.

The tour included Battle Stations 21, which is the culmination of eight weeks of training by recruits. Battle Stations 21 is a grueling 12-hour test of a recruit's skills in several shipboard scenarios including firefighting, combatting flooding, and transporting casualties. It is held aboard the 210-foot-long Arleigh Burke-class destroyer replica, USS Trayer, the Navy's largest simulator.

"What we hope is, number one, they understand the effort it takes to train a recruit; and, number two, get a greater understanding of our military attributes of honor, courage, and commitment," said Turner.

The group also visited the USS Missouri Small Arms Marksmanship Trainer (SAMT) at RTC. They had the opportunity to see how recruits learn to handle and fire the Navy's standard issue M9 Berretta pistol and Mossberg 500 12-guage shotgun. SAMT uses red laser lights and pneumatic air to simulate the firing and hits on a computer target. After the day of qualifying at SAMT, recruits then go next door to live-fire the weapons at the USS Wisconsin indoor range.

While at SAMT, the officers met with Rear Adm. Stephen C. Evans, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), who oversees RTC.

Evans welcomed the group to RTC and Naval Station Great Lakes, and told them visits by foreign officer classes at the NSC help to form stronger partnership bonds between the U.S. Navy and the navies of foreign countries.

Finally, the group was provided the opportunity to attend a pass-in-review recruit graduation ceremony in the Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall.

"This was an awesome experience, not only for myself, but for all the international officers that are part of Class 2017 at the Naval Staff College," said Belize navy Lt. Gregory Soberanis, class president. "It really highlighted the sense of patriotism and commitment the U.S. Navy has in enhancing a global maritime partnership with the many countries around the world."

RTC is primarily responsible for conducting the initial orientation and training of new recruits. The command is commonly is referred to as boot camp or recruit training, and has been in operation at Great Lakes since 1911. Boot camp is approximately eight weeks, and all enlistees into the United States Navy begin their careers at the command. Training includes physical fitness, seamanship, firearms, firefighting, and shipboard damage control. There are also lessons in Navy heritage, core values, teamwork, and discipline. Since the closure of RTCs in Orlando and San Diego in 1994, RTC Great Lakes is now the Navy's only basic training location and is known as "The Quarterdeck of the Navy." Today, 30,000-40,000 recruits graduate annually from RTC, beginning their Navy careers.

Since the first class met Oct. 6, 1884, in an austere loft with nine students, more than 24,000 U.S. military and international officers, as well as hundreds of senior federal service civilian executives have graduated from the Naval War College.

NSTC oversees 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy, as well as the Navy's Citizenship Development program. NSTC includes RTC; the Naval ROTC program; 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, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

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

For more information about the Naval War College, visit http://www.usnwc.edu/.

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/.