JHS Class of 2025 Salutatorian Graduates US Navy Boot Camp

By John Earp

This past week in Chicago, Gabriel Earp (JHS Class of 2025) graduated, along with over 1000 other recruits, from the United States Navy Boot Camp at the Great Lakes Naval Station Recruit Training Center. Gabriel is excited about his future in the United States Navy, and will soon begin his “A School” training as an electrician’s mate, which will provide him with the necessary skills to eventually become an electrician. He had hoped he would be able to become a nuclear engineer, but was just one point shy of the standard required in science on the advanced testing for that particular career.

The graduation ceremony was a big celebration, complete with an absolutely perfect musical performance by a Navy band made up of recruits. Several national standard songs were played, including “God Bless America,” and “America, the Beautiful.” The recruits all marched into the auditorium by their divisions, before a crowd of several thousands who had gathered to witness the event. Flags representing all fifty states of the union, as well as the flags of U.S. territories, were carried in procession during the ceremony.

Reflecting on his experience in Navy Boot Camp, Gabriel said, “It’s really not that hard if you just do what they tell you to do.” He said, “If you didn’t know manners, you will definitely know them soon after you start boot camp. Especially in the beginning, Gabe said recruits experience “a beating,” which is code for intensive training consisting of pushups and other calisthenics. One thing that Gabe says was stressed in boot camp is the feeling of urgency—you do what you’re supposed to do when they tell you to do it. You are to do it now, he says. “The discipline is way different from your parents,” Gabe said. He said the intensive training type of discipline he experienced at boot camp was all designed to make you stronger, more disciplined, and better motivated to accomplish the mission assigned to the recruits. Gabe also said the food was good at boot camp.

After graduation, Gabe took advantage of being at liberty by spending a few days with his family. Highlights of the weekend after graduation were visiting Chicago’s world-class Shedd Aquarium, which included beluga whales, dolphins, tropical fish, many beautiful freshwater fish, seals, etc., as well as the Field Museum of Natural History, with historical exhibits with artifacts from many parts of the world.