tbirdismypride Posted July 28, 2018 Share #1 Posted July 28, 2018 This may be a silly question for some but what were Drill Instructors called in the Navy during World War II. I know that today they are called RDC's were they called the same thing in WWII? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted July 28, 2018 Share #2 Posted July 28, 2018 Recruit Training Company's were organized by Regiment, Battalion, Company, etc. and drilled with manual of arms, marching in formation, obstacle course......similar to groundpounders. Post WWII, Cold War and Vietnam Era, they were always referred to as Company Commander (CC). It was probably the same in WWII. It was in the mid 1970's that NTC/RTC's (Naval/Recruit Training Center) were reorganized when they stopped drilling with rifles. Some of the ex Boot Camp instructors on the site (i.e. Sigsaye) can chime in on this from their personal experience in pushing boots. I was in the last "Company" at RTC Orlando and on our Company standard we had "Last of a Proud Tradition" emblazoned on it. I have a photo of it somewhere around here and will post it when I come across it. USN Company Commander https://www.gjenvick.com/Military/NavyArchives/USNTC-Yearbooks/GreatLakes-TheKeel/CompanyCommanderAtGreatLakesNTC.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted July 28, 2018 Share #3 Posted July 28, 2018 Found a photo I posted on the site in 2009 regarding USN RTC flags Our standard was made by the recruits (we had 80 men in our company at RTC Orlando) and we also were awarded the coveted Brigade Award standard as the Honor Company and our standard was emblazoned with the motto "Company 136 Last of a Proud Tradition". The photo below depicts from left: RTC Orlando standard, Company standard, Academic standard with streamers, Brigade Award, Company 136 Guidon, Physical fitness standard with streamers, and the Leadership standard. The only one we were not awarded (which was killing our red-roper as he wanted to make a 'clean sweep' prior to retirement) was the Infantry standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbirdismypride Posted July 28, 2018 Author Share #4 Posted July 28, 2018 Perfect! Thanks for the information! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sigsaye Posted July 28, 2018 Share #5 Posted July 28, 2018 Salvage, they were called Company Commanders From 1911, they were Comlany ommanders. My uncle enlisted in 1939, he had a Company Commander. My dad enlisted in 1947. He had. Company Commander. I enlisted in 2972, I had a Company Commander. From 1985-1990, I pushed Boots in Great Lakes We were Company Commsnders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted July 28, 2018 Share #6 Posted July 28, 2018 There ya go, Even though the organizational names changed (company to division, etc) the instructors were, and I assume still are, called Company Commanders today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hudson Posted July 29, 2018 Share #7 Posted July 29, 2018 Here's a page from THE KEEL, the "cruise book" for NTC Great Lakes. This is 1952 but I'd imagine few changes had been made in recruit training organization (or curriculum) since the end of WWII. This page raises the question, "What is an RPOC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbirdismypride Posted July 29, 2018 Author Share #8 Posted July 29, 2018 Perfect!! Many thanks to everyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted July 29, 2018 Share #9 Posted July 29, 2018 RPCO - Recruit Petty Officer Chief - Later a RCPO, Recruit Chief Petty Officer - He usually wore a Sabre during parades and ceremonies as seen in this photo I posted above (bottom rank, right) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted August 2, 2018 Share #10 Posted August 2, 2018 RPCO - Recruit Petty Officer Chief - Later a RCPO, Recruit Chief Petty Officer - He usually wore a Sabre during parades and ceremonies as seen in this photo I posted above (bottom rank, right) So this guy is a Boot? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted August 2, 2018 Share #11 Posted August 2, 2018 Yes, Appointed by the Company Commander The company had the following positions with recruits appointed to them, all with temporary ranks RPCO or RCPO - (RCPO w/Sabre) MAA (RPO1) Master at Arms (2) Section Leaders (RPO1) Yeoman Asst. Yeoman Guidon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted August 2, 2018 Share #12 Posted August 2, 2018 Yes, Appointed by the Company Commander The company had the following positions with recruits appointed to them, all with temporary ranks RPCO or RCPO - (RCPO w/Sabre) MAA (RPO1) Master at Arms (2) Section Leaders (RPO1) Yeoman Asst. Yeoman Guidon These were standouts of the class I gather. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted August 2, 2018 Share #13 Posted August 2, 2018 Indeed we were......I was the Asst Yeoman, got a meritorious advancement when I graduated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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