Asbestos Exposure at Great Lakes Naval Training Center
Naval Station Great Lakes is the largest naval installation in the United States and serves as the Navy's only boot camp. Asbestos was used in training ship boiler rooms, the extensive WWII-era barracks and training buildings, and in the mechanical systems of shore facilities throughout the base, exposing both trainees and civilian facility workers.
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Medical and legal information reviewed and updated: • Sources: VA records, EPA Superfund data, NIOSH studies, litigation history
Asbestos History at Great Lakes Naval Training Center
Naval Station Great Lakes is the largest naval installation in the United States and serves as the Navy's only boot camp. Asbestos was used in training ship boiler rooms, the extensive WWII-era barracks and training buildings, and in the mechanical systems of shore facilities throughout the base, exposing both trainees and civilian facility workers.
Key Facts
Naval Station Great Lakes was established in 1905 and is the sole remaining U.S. Navy recruit training command.
During World War II, Great Lakes trained over one million sailors — more than any other naval installation in history.
The base encompasses over 1,600 acres and includes some of the oldest military buildings in the Midwest, many constructed with asbestos-containing materials.
Training ships stationed at Great Lakes during WWII and the Cold War contained the same asbestos insulation found in operational fleet vessels.
Renovation and demolition of older base structures have created asbestos hazards for construction and maintenance workers over many decades.
Where Asbestos Was Found at Great Lakes Naval Training Center
Asbestos was integrated into the infrastructure of virtually every military installation built before 1980. At Great Lakes Naval Training Center, documented asbestos-containing materials were found in:
WWII-era training ship engine and boiler rooms
Barracks and dormitory mechanical systems
Steam heating and distribution systems in base buildings
Pipe insulation in base infrastructure
Power plant and boiler plant facilities
Mechanical training facilities
Workers and service members in these areas faced chronic low-level exposure over the course of months or years. Because mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years, many veterans who served decades ago are only receiving diagnoses today.
Affected Occupations at Great Lakes Naval Training Center
Certain occupational roles at Great Lakes Naval Training Center carried significantly higher asbestos exposure risk due to direct contact with insulation, gaskets, pipe systems, and other asbestos-containing materials:
👷Boiler room instructors and trainees
👷Maintenance workers
👷Pipefitters
👷Boilermakers
👷Electricians
👷Heating plant workers
👷Construction and renovation workers
Even workers who did not directly handle asbestos — such as supervisors, inspectors, or administrative personnel who spent time in affected areas — may have experienced bystander exposure sufficient to cause mesothelioma decades later.
Asbestos Trust Funds for Great Lakes Naval Training Center Veterans
The companies that manufactured and supplied asbestos-containing materials used at Great Lakes Naval Training Center have established bankruptcy trust funds totaling over $30 billion to compensate victims. Veterans and workers exposed at this installation may be eligible to file claims against multiple trusts:
Johns-Manville
Owens Corning
W.R. Grace
Armstrong World Industries
Pittsburgh Corning
Trust fund claims are separate from VA benefits — you can pursue both simultaneously. Most trust fund claims are resolved within 12 to 18 months. Our attorneys handle the entire process with no upfront cost.
VA Benefits for Great Lakes Naval Training Center Veterans
Navy veterans — particularly those who worked in ship engine rooms, boiler rooms, and aboard vessels repaired at this shipyard — faced the heaviest asbestos exposure in the entire U.S. military.
VA Disability & Healthcare Benefits
100% VA Disability Rating — Mesothelioma automatically qualifies for the maximum VA disability rating, providing monthly compensation of $3,737+ for a single veteran (2026 rates).
VA Healthcare — Full access to VA oncology centers, including specialized mesothelioma care at VA cancer centers.
Aid & Attendance — Additional monthly compensation for veterans who need help with daily activities due to illness.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) — Monthly payments to surviving spouses and dependent children of veterans who died from service-connected asbestos diseases.
Vocational Rehabilitation — Job training and career services for veterans whose condition affects their ability to work.
Your Legal Rights as a Great Lakes Naval Training Center Veteran
Veterans with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer have the right to file civil lawsuits against the manufacturers of asbestos products used at their base — separate from and in addition to VA claims. These lawsuits are filed against the asbestos companies, not the military, and do not affect your VA benefits.
Statute of Limitations — Act Before Your Deadline
Every state imposes a filing deadline — called the statute of limitations — for mesothelioma claims. In most states, you have 2 to 3 years from the date of diagnosis to file. Missing this deadline permanently bars your right to compensation.
Our attorneys have worked with veterans from Great Lakes Naval Training Center and dozens of other military installations. We understand the unique exposure history, documentation requirements, and combination of VA + civil litigation strategies that maximize compensation for veterans and their families. No fees unless we win.
Free Case Review for Great Lakes Naval Training Center Veterans
If you or a family member served at Great Lakes Naval Training Center and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer, contact us today. Our attorneys are available 24/7 and will review your case at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was there asbestos at Great Lakes Naval Training Center?
Yes. Great Lakes Naval Training Center (Great Lakes, Illinois) has documented asbestos exposure from 1905–present. Asbestos was used in WWII-era training ship engine and boiler rooms, Barracks and dormitory mechanical systems, Steam heating and distribution systems in base buildings, and other areas throughout the installation. Asbestos-related diseases linked to this base include mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Can Navy veterans from Great Lakes Naval Training Center get compensation?
Yes. Veterans who served at Great Lakes Naval Training Center and were later diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for compensation from asbestos trust funds including Johns-Manville, Owens Corning, W.R. Grace. Personal injury lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers are also available. Our firm works on contingency — no fees unless we win.
What VA benefits are available for Great Lakes Naval Training Center veterans?
Veterans who served at Great Lakes Naval Training Center and developed asbestos-related diseases may qualify for VA disability compensation at up to 100% disability rating, VA healthcare including specialized oncology treatment, Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) for severe disability, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving family members.
Can family members of Great Lakes Naval Training Center workers file claims?
Yes. Family members who were exposed to asbestos brought home on work clothing (called secondary or take-home exposure) and later developed mesothelioma may file their own compensation claims. Spouses who washed work uniforms and children who were regularly near an exposed worker face documented secondary exposure risk. Courts in all 50 states recognize these claims.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Danziger & De Llano, LLP. Every case is unique; outcomes depend on individual facts and circumstances. Statute of limitations deadlines vary by state. Contact an attorney to discuss the specific facts of your situation.
