Great Lakes Naval Training Center Naval Station Great Lakes is the Navy's only boot camp and the largest military training installation in the world. Millions of recruits passed through facilities built with asbestos-containing materials, and permanent staff worked in contaminated buildings for years.
Last verified: 2026-03-09Established in 1911, Naval Station Great Lakes trained over a million sailors during World War II alone. The massive construction programs of the 1940s used asbestos extensively in barracks, classrooms, mess halls, and central heating plants. As recruits typically spent 8 to 12 weeks in training, their exposure was relatively brief compared to permanent staff, but cumulative for those who served multiple tours at the station.
Recruits lived in barracks and trained in buildings containing asbestos floor tiles, ceiling materials, and pipe insulation. Permanent staff — instructors, maintenance workers, and administrators — spent years working in these same buildings with prolonged exposure. Central heating plants that warmed the lakefront installation used boilers insulated with asbestos, and maintenance of these systems created concentrated exposure for boiler operators and pipefitters.
The following job categories at Great Lakes Naval Training Center had the highest risk of asbestos exposure:
Both recruits who passed through Great Lakes and permanent personnel stationed there have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. Maintenance workers and boiler plant operators who handled asbestos insulation directly faced the highest risks. Even relatively short-duration exposure during boot camp contributed to cumulative lifetime fiber burden.
Health information is based on established medical research on asbestos exposure. Asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen by the National Cancer Institute, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Consult a physician for medical advice specific to your situation.
Workers exposed to asbestos at Great Lakes Naval Training Center may be entitled to compensation through asbestos trust funds, personal injury lawsuits, or veterans benefits. Mesothelioma patients and their families have recovered billions in compensation from companies that manufactured or used asbestos products.
Find Out If You QualifyWorkers who were employed at Great Lakes Naval Training Center between 1940s–1980s may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials. If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may have legal options including trust fund claims and lawsuits.
If you were exposed to asbestos at Great Lakes Naval Training Center and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, these specialized treatment centers in Illinois may be able to help.
Yes. Recruits lived in barracks and trained in buildings that contained asbestos materials. While their exposure was shorter than permanent staff, even weeks of living in buildings with deteriorating asbestos can contribute to disease risk, especially when combined with other lifetime exposures.
Boiler plant operators, pipefitters, and building maintenance workers who directly handled asbestos insulation faced the highest exposure levels. Instructors and administrative staff in older buildings also accumulated significant exposure over years of service.
Yes. Any veteran who served at Naval Station Great Lakes and is diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease may file a VA disability claim. Service records showing your training dates and duty station are important supporting documentation.
If you or a loved one worked at Great Lakes Naval Training Center and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, our attorneys can help you explore your legal options. There is no cost, no pressure, and no obligation.
Or call us 24/7: 1-800-400-1805
Sources:
