Module 04

RTC Chain of Command

Recruit Training Command chain by position (titles only — names change with each administration and command rotation).

Navy Chain of Command (RTC)
  1. 1
    POTUS

    President of the United States

    Commander in Chief of the U.S. Armed Forces.

  2. 2
    VPOTUS

    Vice President of the United States

    Second-highest executive officer of the United States.

  3. 3
    SECDEF

    Secretary of Defense

    Head of the Department of Defense, principal defense policy advisor to the President.

  4. 4
    SECNAV

    Secretary of the Navy

    Head of the Department of the Navy, responsible for all Navy and Marine Corps affairs.

  5. 5
    CNO

    Chief of Naval Operations

    Senior military officer of the Navy and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

  6. 6
    MCPON

    Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

    Senior enlisted advisor to the CNO and the highest-ranking enlisted Sailor.

  7. 7
    USFF

    Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command

    Provides operational forces to combatant commanders.

  8. 8
    CNP

    Chief of Naval Personnel

    Oversees Navy manpower, personnel, training, and education.

  9. 9
    NETC

    Commander, Naval Education and Training Command

    Provides education and training to Navy personnel; parent command of NSTC.

  10. 10
    NSTC

    Commander, Naval Service Training Command

    Oversees initial accession training including RTC, NROTC, and Officer Training Command.

  11. 11
    CO, RTC

    Commanding Officer, Recruit Training Command

    Commands RTC Great Lakes — the Navy's only boot camp.

  12. 12
    XO, RTC

    Executive Officer, Recruit Training Command

    Second-in-command at RTC, responsible for day-to-day operations.

  13. 13
    CMC, RTC

    Command Master Chief, Recruit Training Command

    Senior enlisted advisor at RTC.

  14. 14
    LCPO

    Ship's Leading Chief Petty Officer

    Senior chief responsible for a recruit ship (training division group).

  15. 15
    RDC

    Recruit Division Commander

    Directly responsible for training and leading a division of recruits through boot camp.