RTC Holds Change of Command Ceremony

By Brian Walsh, Recruit Training Command Public Affairs

GREAT LAKES (NNS) -- Recruit Training Command (RTC) held a traditional change of command ceremony at Midway Ceremonial Drill Hall, June 25.

Capt. Douglas Pfeifle relieved Capt. John Dye as commanding officer.

Commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC), Rear Adm. Rich A. Brown, was the keynote speaker at the ceremony.

"There is not a commanding officer in the entire Navy who has had a more significant impact than Capt. Dye has had here at RTC," said Brown. "In the short time I've been here, I have truly been impressed with his energy. You only have to attend one graduation to understand the reason - the pride and energy is palpable. You had the honor of introducing family, friends and loved ones to the newest, sharpest Sailors that the United States Navy has to offer. As someone who has met many of the young Sailors you have launched on their Navy journey, I can attest to the fact that you have done a superb job in training them."

More than 300 special guests, Sailors and friends and family of the command were on hand for the ceremony.

"I certainly could not have accomplished anything at this command without the support from my family and the military and civilian staff members assigned to RTC. Thank you for your unwavering dedication," said Dye during his final remarks as commanding officer of RTC. "I leave 'The Quarterdeck of the Navy' knowing that the command is in good hands."

While serving as commanding officer, Dye led more than 1,100 military and civilian staff members in the training of nearly 80,000 recruits during their transition from civilians to basically trained U.S. Navy Sailors. He hosted 96 Pass-in-Reviews for the Navy's most senior leadership, dignitaries and family and friends of graduating recruits.

Dye will next serve in Norfolk, Virginia as the director for Naval Education Training Command's (NETC) Learning and Development division.

Pfeifle, a native of Lexington, Kentucky was commissioned through the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Pennsylvania in May 1991. Prior to taking the helm at RTC, he led as commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School Pacific and managed the Navy Marine Corps Flying Hour Program at the Pentagon.

"Recruit Training Command is unlike any other command in the Navy," said Pfeifle. "The opportunity to mold and train these new Sailors for service in the fleet is a humbling responsibility. It will be an honor to forge the next generation of leaders in our Navy."

RTC is primarily responsible for conducting the initial Navy orientation and training of new recruits. The command is commonly referred to as "boot camp" or "recruit training".

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 familiarization, firefighting and shipboard damage control, lessons in Navy heritage and core values, teamwork and discipline. Since the closure of RTCs in Orlando and San Diego in 1994, RTC Great Lakes is, today, the Navy's only basic training location, and is known as "The Quarterdeck of the Navy." Today, approximately 38,000 recruits graduate annually from RTC and begin their Navy careers.

RTC is overseen by Brown and his Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) staff, headquartered in Building 1; the historic clock tower building on Naval Station Great Lakes, Ill. NSTC oversees 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy. NSTC also includes the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps at more than 160 colleges and universities, OTC Newport, and Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.