Naval Training Center San Diego, located in the Point Loma area of San Diego adjacent to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, served as the Pacific Fleet’s primary enlisted recruit training center — Boot Camp — from its WWII establishment until the installation’s 1997 BRAC closure. NTC San Diego processed hundreds of thousands of Navy recruits through its 8-10 week recruit training program throughout the Cold War, with recruits living in the base’s WWII-era barracks throughout their training cycle. The base’s WWII-era building infrastructure exposed recruits and permanent training staff to asbestos-containing materials in the base’s 1940s-era construction throughout the Cold War period.

WWII-Era Barracks and Building Infrastructure

NTC San Diego was established in 1923 and expanded significantly in the WWII period, with its primary building stock reflecting 1941-1945 military construction:

  • WWII-era recruit barracks — the recruit training barracks where Navy recruits lived during their 8-10 week boot camp training used asbestos-containing construction materials throughout their 1942-1944 construction — asbestos floor tile in barracks common areas, asbestos-containing ceiling materials, and asbestos insulation in the building mechanical systems and steam heating serving the barracks
  • Steam heating system — the base steam heating distribution serving WWII-era NTC San Diego barracks and training buildings used asbestos-insulated steam pipe throughout the base heating system, with individual building heating radiators connected via asbestos-insulated steam supply piping
  • Training facility buildings — the classroom buildings, mess halls, and support facilities at NTC San Diego built in the WWII period used asbestos-containing construction materials throughout their building systems

Recruit Exposure Duration and Intensity

The recruit training environment created concentrated exposure conditions:

  • Navy recruits lived in NTC San Diego WWII-era barracks for the full 8-10 week duration of recruit training — continuous 24-hour occupancy in buildings with asbestos-containing floor tile, ceiling, and mechanical system materials throughout the barracks
  • Recruits performed barracks maintenance and cleaning duties as part of recruit training — sweeping, swabbing, and maintaining barracks spaces that included asbestos floor tile and other asbestos-containing materials in the building

Training Staff Permanent Party Exposure

Navy training staff — Recruit Division Commanders (RDCs) and support personnel — assigned to permanent party billets at NTC San Diego accumulated years of exposure from the WWII-era building environment:

  • Training staff personnel spending full tours (2-3 years) at NTC San Diego as permanent party lived and worked in the base’s WWII-era building infrastructure throughout their shore duty assignment

VA Claims for NTC San Diego Veterans

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure at naval training installations. Veterans who underwent recruit training at NTC San Diego during the Cold War era (prior to the base’s 1997 closure) and who lived in the WWII-era barracks and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.