Naval Training Center Bainbridge, located in Port Deposit, Cecil County, Maryland on the Susquehanna River, operated as a US Navy recruit training command from WWII through 1947, was reactivated during the Korean War buildup, and operated continuously from 1951 through 1976 when it was decommissioned and transferred to state use. NTC Bainbridge trained hundreds of thousands of Navy recruits in its WWII-era and Korean War-era barracks and training buildings, supplemented by specialty school programs in Navy ratings training throughout its operational period. Navy recruits and permanent party personnel at NTC Bainbridge lived and worked in the WWII-era building complex throughout their assignments at this major recruit training command.

WWII-Era Training Complex and Asbestos

NTC Bainbridge’s training facility complex used WWII-era construction materials throughout:

  • Recruit barracks buildings — the enlisted barracks and recruit berthing buildings at NTC Bainbridge were constructed during the WWII expansion period using standard wartime institutional building materials including asbestos ceiling tile, asbestos floor tile, and asbestos pipe insulation on the steam heating system throughout the barracks buildings. Navy recruits living in these barracks during their training were in continuous proximity to the aging WWII-era asbestos-containing construction materials for the duration of their training assignment
  • Classroom and training building stock — the classroom buildings, training halls, and specialized training facilities at NTC Bainbridge used WWII-era institutional construction with asbestos ceiling tile, floor tile, and building mechanical system insulation consistent with the wartime building standards. Permanent party instructors assigned to NTC Bainbridge spent extended duty tours working in these asbestos-containing classroom facilities
  • Administrative and galley buildings — the administrative buildings, chow halls, and base support facilities throughout NTC Bainbridge used WWII-era construction with asbestos-containing building products throughout the large training center complex

Steam Heating Plant and Asbestos

NTC Bainbridge’s central heating plant served the recruit barracks complex:

  • The central steam heating plant serving NTC Bainbridge’s extensive barracks and training building complex used industrial boiler equipment with asbestos-containing refractory and casing insulation. The steam distribution piping throughout the base used asbestos pipe insulation on the heating system distribution mains serving the barracks buildings, with Utilitiesmen maintaining this steam heating infrastructure in proximity to asbestos-containing insulation throughout the system

VA Claims for NTC Bainbridge Veterans

VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims on a case-by-case basis. Veterans generally need evidence of in-service asbestos exposure, a current asbestos-related diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Navy personnel — both recruits who trained at NTC Bainbridge and permanent party instructors and support staff who served there — who have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.