Great Lakes Naval Station — Local services in North Chicago

I stayed at this 8-week all-inclusive resort back in 2008. The beds were comfortable but, I would have preferred a private room. The staff don't seem to understand customer service very well. Lots of educational and fitness orientated activities are included in the package. They are also not optional. They do have a nice pool but the life guards rush you through your allocated swimming time. I heard there are swimming lessons available but they are super early in the morning. The food was really good but the staff rush you through and make you eat quickly. The stay finishes with BattleStations which I was told not to discuss in detail but you really feel like you accomplished something at the end and I even got a souvenir hat. 10/10...

Phenomenal experience during the 3rd Iteration of NSI in summer of 2021. Beautiful and spacious campus, vast green fields, and air conditioned living quarters. The food in the chow halls was some of the best I have ever ate - apple and peach oatmeal for breakfast, fish and potatoes or lobster bisque for lunch, and grilled chicken and vegetables for dinner, among many of the foods the kitchen staff provided. The best part? Hearing the various recruit divisions calling cadence while we marched or were PTing, and soon singing "Hey Sailor" and "Sailors at War" ourselves. Shoutout Chief Miles, GySgt Martinez, the A-01 MI's, and Bravo Co. who made this...

Met a lot of great people here. Unfortunately, they don't give second chances. I got sent home because of a misdiagnosed chest pain. Before sending me home they said to go to the recruiter in a few months and get a waiver to come back. Guess what, no recruiters from any branch will let me in because of the RE code they gave me. They gave me the wrong code by mistake and aren't willing to change it. It's been six years and I still have dreams about this place sometimes. I just wish they'd let me back in or let me at least change my RE code. I'm thinking of writing to my state...