Bainbridge Maryand Training

• Naval Training Center Bainbridge: Located in Port Deposit, Cecil County, Maryland, Naval Training Center Bainbridge was a major United States Navy training facility during World War II and the Cold War. • Named After Commodore William Bainbridge: The center was named in honor of Commodore William Bainbridge, a hero of the early U.S. Navy and commander of the USS Constitution ("Old Ironsides"). • World War II Construction: The center was rapidly constructed in 1942, transforming the area from farmland into a sprawling military base in just six months. • Massive Recruit Training: At its peak, Bainbridge could house and train up to 20,000 recruits at one time, making it one of the largest naval training centers in the country. • Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES): Bainbridge was one of the few installations to train female service members under the WAVES program during World War II. • Unique Medical Training: The Bainbridge Hospital Corps School was one of the most significant sites for training Navy corpsmen, many of whom served in the Pacific and European theaters. • Cold War Role: After World War II, Bainbridge continued to operate as a training base, playing a key role during the Korean War and the early Cold War era. • Presidential Visit: President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the base in 1942 to inspect the facility and boost morale among the recruits and staff. • Closure and Legacy: The base was decommissioned in 1976, but many former sailors and Marines still recall their time at Bainbridge as a formative period in their lives. • Current Status: Much of the site is now abandoned or repurposed, but alumni and local organizations actively preserve the memory and history of Naval Training Center Bainbridge through reunions and historical projects.