Div 8, Co 170 1991. The gas chamber was directly across the street off her port side. Staggered down the steps and let the air flush the gas from your eyes beside this ship! It's an upscale condo community. I went there last year and a group of women were pushing strollers in neon tights doing "mommy" PT on our bridge where we had to at ease march to cross for chow.

This "ship" was a part of the base where I attended boot camp back in 1990. We learned a great deal about ship operations & safety procedures. The worst part was going through the "Gas Chamber" room inside the "ship", You would go in and don your mask. Room fills with tear gas. You took off your mask, inhaled the gas, and then had to don your mask again. Your eyes watered and snot ran down your nose. Good times!

Lots of memories here. I went to both Boot Camp and Communications school here at the former NTC San Diego. Didn't occur to me till now to check google maps and street view to see how the old base turned out. The developers did a great job creating this new neighborhood out of the old base. They kept allot of the old buildings and the USS Recruit. Wish I had the money to take a trip out to San Diego and check out these places.

The USS Recruit is a landlocked ship that trained countless Naval service personnel over decades. Sitting on the edge of Liberty Station, also know as the Naval Training Center, the ship is now a historic monument. Too bad there are no tours of the ship to see what it was like to be trained here.

It's really cool to see a piece of history. This was used for training; even though it's much smaller. Cool to stop by and see if you're in the area.

This was my first time coming back here since 1991 when i joined the US Navy! It brought back a lot of memories and i gotta say they were all great memories! We Are Navy!

I went to RTC San Diego and did Pass in Review One month before the base closed. I still remember training on this ship and carrying all of those fire hoses!

Went to Boot Camp here, 26 years ago, was assigned to Division 5 Company 069, across the grinder from the galley. USS Recruit you bring back a lot memories, haven't seen you in a long time, I hope they are taking care of you!

While visit liberty station San Diego if you’re interested in US Navy history this is a great stop. There is plenty of parking close to the ship. The ship was commissioned on July 27, 1949. It was commissioned for 18 years for much of that time it was the only landlocked ship to hold that status in the US Navy. It was used to train recruits. She is an impressive sight on land for sure! She was built to scale 2/3 the size of a Dealey class destroyer escort. She sits at the former Navy Training Center, San Diego. This ship assisted the training of over 50,000 new recruits per year, the ship still stands showing honor, courage and commitment. She is currently unused With the hopes that she will someday become a Maritime Museum. This was a must see for us.

Boot in Feb 1984. Company 028. What have they done to our beloved RTC/NTC. There's a hotel walking distance to the SS Neversail. Unsat.

Awesome to relive the experience did bootcamp here in 1986. The Recruit was where we got to call home from and they trained us in the gas chamber.

I did BOOT there Nov.--1968... did sound powered phones on board the Recruit. Then off to NAS Millington.Tenn. Then off the NAS CHASE,Beeville,TEXAS.

I can see why the Navy moved the Recruit Training Center because this ship is in Sanddock and practically useless for training Sailors on ocean going vessels.

Loved seeing this up close. My husband trained on this in boot camp 50 years ago!

Glad to see they left it up brings back memories of when I went to bootcamp there

Company 167 . 1975 one of my fondest memory . !!!!

Was pleased to see that this Beautiful Naval Structure is still standing since I was stationed here 32yrs ago!!! Figured they would have torn her down and put up an AWESOME, COOL, and HIP coffee shop! Lol We sure have to have another, gotta have them at every other block!

My boyfriend did basic training there. They have a wonderful museum there with models need to talk to another vet by the name of Joe.

Boot Camp 1989, Division Five Company 303 .....oh the memories.

Very cool piece of history. I was surprised to find it in the middle of a strip mall though.

Happening upon the USS Recruit during a SD visit transported me through time to an eight week 'coming of age' journey in 1983.

WOW...to see posts by visitors from 15-20 yrs ago, sure makes me want to revisit as well, for I went to RTC & SSC in San Diego back in 1971..woah!!!

Great to still see it is standing, as it's the only one of 3 built for training future sailors that was kept. Brought back wonderful memories of my time in San Diego. While RTC and NTC are no more, the area was developed well and keeps history alive. Wonderful Park and trails to exercise. Give this place a visit for sure on your next visit.

I found the interesting and I think you may also take a few minutes and enjoy

A very unique piece of US Naval History

Please do not miss this when you're at Liberty Station Park it is on the other side of the Marriott's next to the two Bridges. It is one of the old training vessels the Navy used to train sailors just a really cool training Vessel

This Ship / Cultural landmark had pay-phones inside, back in 1992, Company commanders would take us there to call relatives back home. I used to call my then girlfriend Erika (now my wife), from this ship while I was in training at the RTC / NTC.

Such a beautiful ship, Although it never was used as a actual vessel and its fake. Despite it being smaller than the ship it's based after, its actually quite big. I hope to see her again in a condition that's just as good as she is today

I remember the class that we had there. It was all about all the kind of knots that the Navy uses! I went to boot camp there in the summer of 1972. I was in company 273. After boot camp I was assigned to the the USS Enterprise CVAN 65.The last time I was there was in August of 2011. I had mixed emotions because the Navy boot camp had been torn down except for the USS Recruit that had been made into Memorial and the bridge that one crossed from worm Island! Great memories were made while I was there! Feeling very grateful!

The recruit is a beautiful piece of naval history, even with its namesakes reputation.

Cool little out door attraction. #free.

Fun and interesting relic from our local naval history.

Not exactly an attraction but an interesting piece of history - formally a training vessel on land.

such a neat thing to see. with my husband being in the navy, liberty station is such a neat experience!!

As a graduate of one of the last four companies to pass in review, and return to NTC San Diego, it humbles me that she is still there. Made my 1st phone call home in her small hull. Sad to see so many bases closed.

I went to boot camp in San Diego. USS Recruit brought back some great memories.

Historic fake ship used when this was a training base. Very cool to see

When I was a kid I remember my Dad talking about a ship in the middle of a parking lot that they had to guard when he was in Naval basic training. I wish he were around today to enjoy the pictures and tell me the stories of his time in the military.💔

Easy, free parking. Then go walking, jogging, pram pushing or bicycling along your choice of two glorious paths, paved and not, alongside the waterfront. Butterflies and roses await you. And if you persist, Liberty Station Public Market. Where you can reward yourself for all that virtuous exercise by consuming a zillion calorie Frappuccino or whatever, plus lots of very healthy or very not, lunch meals and treats.

Liberty Station was such a great place to have lunch with a few beers and then enjoy a nice walk to see the USS Recruit. Very interesting history and plaques all along the walkway/park right outside the Liberty Station shopping/dining center.

My hotel viewing deck was just off the port bow. It is a mock up reduced scale "ship" on land surrounded by a park like setting. Fun to look at and good for strolling around and that's about it. Perhaps if it takes you down memory lane it might be worth a separate stop. What is the big globe amidship supposed to represent?? It is the main oddity of design other than no actual hull bottom or shafts and screws.

USS RECRUIT is place to stop by and see the history. Located in Liberty Station on the south end of the base. We went on a weekend and they opened up the bottom for you to go inside. You have to sign a waiver (which doesn't make sense) you're only in one room. You don't climb any stairs and you only get to see through two hatches. Only open on weekends. It's great to see and read about the history of USS Recruit. For only being 2/3 scale it's still pretty big. It's not busy, but has great photo opportunities. Enjoy

Also known as the USS never sail, I finally was able to go inside and listen, look and learn.

Memories

Pet friendly with leashes on. It is cool to look around the Navy boat.

Trained on her in 1966 just months before she was decommissioned. Brings back fond memories now but boot camp back then was not what I would call fun. That kind of training is not allowed now.

Very cool! So much History about our Miliatry Men & Women that are all around Liberty Station (aka Naval Training Center)!!❤

A place to bring friends and family history before you

Remember marching past her during boot camp in 79. Sad to see RTC/NTC gone.

I don't mean to diminish its historical significance but it's just a building disguised as a ship. You can't go inside. I wandered upon it by accident and took a few photos.

Company 571 1958

Dear Old Dad

Cool "statue" fun area to be at. People jogging, walking, biking. Clean area just south of liberty station

Brings back memories! I trained on it when I was in boot camp many years back.

Peaceful and beautiful.

You can't go in it but having it their looks nice while complimenting the naval base across the street.

Where the tears used to fall

History and wouldn't like a boat in a park

Sweet 👍

Lots of history! Great place to check out.