Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Robert Burke, visited Recruit Training Command (RTC) and served as the Pass-in-Review graduation ceremony reviewing officer Friday.

"Today, you wear the cloth of the nation, and because of that, you bear more responsibility," Burke said. "You have proven yourselves worthy of wearing the uniform and all that it symbolizes throughout the world. No matter what happens from this day forward, you will be part of a very elite organization with a rich tradition that goes back even beyond the beginning of our great nation."

Burke presided over the ceremony at Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall where more than 3,500 guests came to see 893 recruits became Sailors.

"You are more than a citizen now," Burke continued. "You've taken on the responsibility of defending our country, and have earned not only my respect, but that of a grateful nation."

During the graduation ceremony, Burke also acknowledged the parents, families, friends and mentors of the recruits and thanked them for playing a role in their Sailor's development from civilians to Sailors.

"You have all played vital roles in these young men and women's lives, tirelessly supporting them and molding them into the people they have become today," Burke said. "What you will see going forward is an awakening within them, the empowerment of belonging to something larger than oneself, and the pride of knowing that they are part of an organization designed to make the world a better place."

While at RTC, Burke also visited USS Iowa for a capping ceremony, where recruits earn their first Navy ball caps for completing Battle Stations 21, the final evaluation that takes place overnight and culminates the recruits' eight weeks of training at boot camp.

All enlistees begin their careers at RTC Great Lakes, the Navy's only basic training location. While there, recruits receive instruction in physical fitness, seamanship, firearms familiarization, firefighting, shipboard damage control, Navy heritage and core values, teamwork and discipline. On average, RTC, graduates approximately 39,000 Sailors per year. Forty-eight graduations are held each year to celebrate the accomplishments of recruits who have completed all training requirements, officially becoming Sailors.

Today's graduation is available for rebroadcast at http://navylive.dodlive.mil/2017/06/09/navy-recruit-graduation-june-9-2017/.

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