As more than 700 recruits celebrated the end of eight weeks of training they were saluted by the Training Support Command (TSC) Great Lakes Commanding Officer during the Pass-In-Review graduation at Recruit Training Command (RTC) Great Lakes, April 10.

While each recruit stood in formation for the assembled Sailors, families and friends, Capt. John B. Vliet, TSC commanding officer, addressed the Navy's newest Sailors.

"You are the Navy's best and brightest," Vliet said. "That is not flattery. That is factual. You are on the starting lineup. You are first string. Nobody here is on the bench."

Each recruit will leave RTC for further training in their specified rate. But, Vliet reminded them, the training tenets they learned here can be applied to the rest of their careers.

"Some of you will be admirals, some of you will be chiefs, some of you will be master chiefs, some of you will get out of the Navy honorably after four years and get your college degrees, one thing will always be with you from your Navy career: that is honor, courage and commitment," he said. "You will always have that. It is yours. You have earned it."

The top recruits from each graduating division were honored during the graduation. Those recruits and their families and friends were invited to a post-graduation reception where they were again honored for their achievements and the top recruit was presented with the Military Excellence Award.

"This is the beginning of your Navy adventure," Vliet said. "Take advantage of your opportunities."

For more news from Training Support Center, Great Lakes, visit www.navy.mil/.