What is the extent of the U.S. Navy's presence inside the Great Lakes?

The U.S. Navy's presence within the Great Lakes is primarily centered around Naval Station Great Lakes (NSGL), which is located near North Chicago, Illinois, along the western shore of Lake Michigan.

Here are some key points about the Navy's presence at NSGL:

Location and Size

• Naval Station Great Lakes is situated on 1,628 acres, with over 1,153 buildings, including 39 listed on the National Register of Historic Places24.

Training and Operations

• NSGL is the Navy's largest training installation and the home of the Navy's only Boot Camp, known as Recruit Training Command (RTC). Since 1996, following the closure of other training centers, all Navy enlisted recruit training has been consolidated here45.
• The station also hosts 80% of the Navy’s surface warfare specialty training and supports over 50 tenant commands, including various branches of the Department of Defense24.

Historical Significance

• Established in 1911, NSGL has played a significant role in both World War I and World War II, training large numbers of sailors. During World War II, it was the site for the first African American trainees and the commissioning of the Navy's first African American officers, known as the "Golden Thirteen"45.

Economic and Community Impact

• The installation supports over 20,000 Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, and DoD civilians and contributes significantly to the local economy, with operations and related activities increasing Illinois' gross domestic product by $4.6 billion1.

In summary, the Navy's presence in the Great Lakes region is predominantly focused on training and support operations at Naval Station Great Lakes, which serves as a critical hub for Navy recruit training and specialized training programs.