Fleet Week USA Supports Navy Recruiting Effort

US Navy Press Releases

. Fleet Week USA Supports Navy Recruiting Effort

By Chief Journalist Michael Breeden, Navy Recruiting District Miami Public Affairs

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (NNS) -- Each year, Navy ships moor at Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to kick-off Fleet Week USA, which is part of McDonald's National Salute to the Military and is followed by the largest air and sea show in the nation. This year, USS Gettysburg (CG 64), USS Cole (DDG 67), USS Stout (DDG 55), USS McFaul (DDG 74) and USS Thorn (DD 988) made fleet week, April 28 through May 2, an unforgettable experience for hundreds of visitors.

A visit aboard a Navy ship can change a young person's image of what the Navy is all about. Jessica Montero, a Felix Verala High School senior and Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadet from Miami, didn't know what to expect, but walked away impressed.

"At first I thought the tour would be boring," Montero said. "You know, I figured it was just a lot of metal! But this really changed my view for the better. At least I got a basic idea of what being on a ship would be like."

During Fleet Week tours, more than 300 visitors also took the opportunity to ride the Navy Recruiting Blue Angels Flight Simulator. This was their first taste of the upcoming McDonald's Air and Sea Show.

While local students, cadets and honored guests toured the ships, Sailors from those ships visited local schools and the North Broward County Hospital. Damage controlmen, search and rescue swimmers, and a corpsman visited local high schools with recruiters, giving the students a view of the Navy that they had never seen before.

"These visits helped our recruiting efforts by giving the faculty and students an opportunity to see a part of the Navy job that we haven't been able to show them," said Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Leighton V. Bridge, a Plantation, Fla., recruiter. "This was a really good thing for us, because after the ships are gone, we will have a better reputation in those schools and should get more referrals from the faculty."

Navy Region Southeast sent their six-piece rock and pop band to Fort Lauderdale for the week, and they performed at five high schools, Nova Southeastern University and entertained locals at two evening performances. The band opened doors for recruiting while performing for thousands of south Floridians.

"Anytime the band's in town," said Machinist Mate 1st Class Jeffery Richard, a Plantation, Fla., recruiter, "let me know. They opened doors for me at a high school and the university campus that previously wouldn't let me in. This is a great thing for Navy recruiting."

During Media Day at the Fort Lauderdale International Airport Jet Center, Adm. Robert J. Natter, commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, swore in more than 150 new enlistees, including 40 Navy recruits.

"You're on your way to boot camp at Great Lakes, Ill.," said Natter. "I went there in 1962, and I can assure you, you're not going to like it. But your mothers will like what you become."

Seaman Recruit Benjamin Orkin, 23, of Coral Springs, Fla., was given the opportunity to tell the crowd what this day meant to him.

"Being here is extremely inspiring," said Orkin. "In a few months, I'll be going to a place outside Chicago, and that's pretty scary because I'm from Florida, and I know Chicago will be cold. But I know joining the military will be one of the best things I've ever done."

Millions of spectators gathered on the beach over the weekend to enjoy the McDonald's Air and Sea Show in Fort Lauderdale. This year, Navy recruiting put forth its best effort yet by setting up it's professional display, fondly referred to as the "Taj Mahal," as a center-piece for the Blue Angels Flight Simulator and the first time ever, U.S. Navy SEAL Challenge.

The Sea, Air and Land Forces (SEAL) challenge consisted of a weigh-in, a mental aptitude test, and three physical challenges that tested agility, strength and dexterity, followed by "The Mission," which was a 10-feet-tall pegboard that contestants had to climb using wooden batons, their arm strength and the will to overcome.

More than 200 contestants gave it a try, of which 188 were age-qualified for Navy programs. Every one of the contestants showed a desire to be challenged and most met the challenge with grace and skill.

"You never know by looking at someone whether or not they're tough enough to be a SEAL," said Master Chief Constructionman Mark Emerson, command master chief, Naval Reserve Special Warfare Unit 4, Navy Marine Corps Reserve Center Hialeah, Fla. "It's a mind set, not how many muscles you have."

Only a handful of contestants were able to successfully complete the challenge, but you wouldn't know it by watching the crowds or the SEAL's. Everyone clapped and cheered whether they made it up the pegboard or not.

The tally is still out, but the numbers and the comments would lead even a trained observer to believe that this was the most successful Navy recruiting effort at the event to date.

For more news from the fleet visit the Navy NewsStand at www.news.navy.mil.