Navy Announces 2012 Navy Week Schedule

From Navy Office of Community Outreach

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (NNS) -- From Boston to Sacramento, America's Navy will come home to 15 cities across the country in 2012 to show Americans why having a strong Navy is critical to the American way of life and to help commemorate the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.

Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy's flagship outreach effort into areas of the country without a significant Navy presence, with 148 Navy Weeks being held in 62 different U.S. cities. In 2012, the Navy Week cities are Phoenix, New Orleans, Nashville, Tenn., Spokane, Wash., Baltimore, Boston, Sacramento, Calif., Sioux Falls, S.D., Milwaukee, Chicago, Toledo, Ohio, Cleveland, Detroit, Buffalo, N.Y. and Houston.

"Navy Weeks are designed to help Americans understand that their Navy is our nation's front line in war and peace, operating on, above and below the sea every day," said Cmdr. Kim Marks, Director of the Navy Office of Community Outreach, which plans and executes the Navy Week program. "Because the Navy is concentrated primarily on both coasts, we're challenged to communicate our mission away from fleet concentration areas. That's where the Navy Week program comes in," she added.

Navy Weeks focus a variety of outreach assets, equipment and personnel on a single city for a week-long series of engagements with key influencers and organizations representing all sectors of the market.

"During a Navy Week, 75-100 outreach events are coordinated with corporate, civic, government, education, media, veterans, community service and diversity organizations in the city," explained Lt. Cmdr. Pam Bou, Navy Week Program Manager. "We bring in as much of the Navy as we can. The Blue Angels, the Navy Parachute Team, bands, divers, Seabees, EOD teams, namesake ship and submarine crews, hometown Sailors, medical personnel, environmental displays, USS Constitution Sailors and equipment, and Navy recruiting properties all have participated in the Navy Week program."

Last year was the Navy Week program's biggest year to date. In 2011, there were 21 Navy Weeks across America that reached nearly 100 million Americans through more than 1,500 individual outreach events.

In 2012, all 15 Navy Weeks will help to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812, with nine of the 15 events held in conjunction with one of the Navy's large-scale signature commemorative events on the Eastern Seaboard and on the Great Lakes. The week-long War of 1812 bicentennial signature events will include parades of warships and sailing vessels, public ship tours, air shows, international athletic competitions, community relations projects, and other city-wide activities.

For more information on the Navy Week program, visit www.navyweek.org.

USS Taylor Makes Tampa Port Call for Navy Week Events

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st class Josh Treadwell, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

TAMPA, Fla. (NNS) -- The frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50) arrived at cruise terminal six Jan. 18, to participate in a week of festivities and community service projects during Tampa Navy Week.

The port visit is part of the Navy's commitment to reach out to communities throughout America.

"The crew is really looking forward to the events," said Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Kurush F. Morris. "Tampa has done a nice job of providing entertainment. The city really rolled out the red carpet for us."

To kickoff the week's festivities, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio presented Commander Navy Region Midwest, Rear Adm. John W. Bayless, Jr. and Morris an official proclamation designating Jan. 19-26, Tampa Navy Week.

During a tour of the ship, Tampa Navy League representative, Skip Witunski, encouraged the crew of Taylor to get out and see the city during their stay.

"We appreciate what the Navy does for our nation," said Witunski. "You will have a good time with everything Tampa has to offer."

During the port visit, Taylor Sailors will participate in a variety of activities, including a "Caps for Kids" visit to a local children's hospital and a trip to Busch Gardens to celebrate Navy Day at the park. The ship will also welcome aboard cheerleaders from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers professional football team.

Tampa Navy Week is the first of 22 Navy weeks scheduled all over the United States in 2008. Navy weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities which do not have a significant everyday Navy presence.

Leap Frogs Do Texas Football Their Way!

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Josh Treadwell, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs
A member of the U.S. Navy Parachute Demonstration Team, the Leap Frogs, jumps into the Cotton Bowl as part of Dallas Navy Week. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Josh Treadwell)

The U.S. Navy Parachute Team, the Leap Frogs, jumped into Plano High School’s Clark Stadium, Sept. 28, to deliver the game football and game coin, marking the beginning of Dallas Navy Week.

The sold-out crowd for the annual rivalry between Plano High School and Allen High School greeted the Leap Frogs as they floated into the stadium with raucous cheers.

That evening, the Leap Frogs jumped into to the Cotton Bowl for the annual State Fair Classic between, Prairie View A&M and Grambling State, performing their precision freefall and parachute jumps in support of Navy-wide retention, recruiting and community relations programs.

"We travel around the [United States] to help keep the public aware of the Navy," said Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Robert Fienberg. "Our main focus is to show public awareness and aid in the recruitment of Navy Special Warfare."

The performance was sponsored by Navy Recruiting District Dallas and the Navy Office of Community Outreach to generate awareness of Special Warfare Operations and identify those who may want to be a SEAL or other special warfare operator.

The U.S. Navy Parachute Team is a 15-man team comprised entirely of U.S. Navy SEAL and Special Warfare Combatant Craft Crewman (SWCC) personnel. Each member comes to the team for a three-year tour from one of the two Naval Special Warfare groups located on the East and West coasts. Upon completion of the tour, members return to operational units.

This performance was held in conjunction with Dallas Navy Week, Sept. 28-Oct. 7. Dallas Navy Week is planned and coordinated by Navy Recruiting District Dallas and Navy Office of Community Outreach to increase Navy awareness and strengthen the rich and diverse relationship between the Dallas community and the Navy. During Navy Week, Sailors will reach out to the local community visiting veterans, children’s hospitals, local schools and conducting various community service projects.

Dallas Navy Week is one of 26 Navy Weeks planned across America in 2007. Navy weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and provide heartland communities opportunities to meet Sailors first hand, and learn about the latest capabilities and opportunities in the U.S. Navy.