America’s Navy sails into Savannah for Navy Week

Logistics Specialist Seaman Ariel Watts, from Dawson, Georgia, assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), waves to Savannah locals during Savannah’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade, March 17, 2022. Navy Week is an annual series of events held throughout the year in various U.S. cities without a significant Navy presence to provide an opportunity for citizens to interact with Sailors and learn about the Navy and its capabilities. The Fleet Outreach Ambassador Team is a delegation of hand-selected Sailors who interact with the community by sharing their experiences and stories to help citizens better understand the Navy and its role in national security. During their mission in Savannah, the ambassadors will visit local high schools, participate in the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade, conduct community service projects, tour local museums, and meet with a local Girl Scouts Troop. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Angel Thuy Jaskuloski)

The U.S. Navy is preparing to bring a Navy Week to Savannah, Georgia during the week of March 11-17, as the third Navy Week of the calendar year.

Savannah Navy Week will bring between 50 and 75 Sailors from across the nation to volunteer throughout the community and discuss why the Navy matters to Savannah. This will be the second Navy Week hosted by Savannah and the surrounding communities. The program last visited Savannah in 2022. 

Savannah Navy Week will feature in-person demonstrations, performances, and engagements throughout the week that will include:

  • Senior Navy Leaders – Flag officer and senior civilian Navy leaders with ties to Savannah and the surrounding area.
  • Namesake Sailors – Sailors serving on USS Georgia (SSGN-729), an Ohio-class submarine and USS Savannah (LCS 28), an Independence-variant littoral combat ship.
  • Naval Band Southeast -Performances and masterclasses with Navy Musicians.
  • Naval History and Heritage Command – Educational presentations and lesson plans about the deep ties between Georgia and the Navy. 
  • USS Constitution – Demonstrations about the oldest commissioned ship in the Navy.
  • Navy Expeditionary Combat Command – Educational STEM presentations and fitness demonstrations by technicians, medics, and divers. 
  • U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command – Educational presentation on the importance of atmospheric and oceanographic science and the overall value of STEM education to the Navy.

Navy Weeks are the service’s signature outreach program, designed to allow the citizens of Savannah to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. The Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO) coordinates Navy Weeks.

“We are thrilled to bring the Navy to Savannah,” said NAVCO’s director, Cmdr. Anthony Falvo. “Though our Navy is deployed around-the-world and around-the-clock, the Navy Week program allows us to showcase our Navy in places that don’t enjoy an everyday naval presence. Most importantly it affords us the opportunity to highlight our most important asset – the highly skilled men and women of the United States Navy who ensure our warfighting advantage to preserve our American way of life.”

Since 2005, the Navy Week program has served as the Navy’s flagship outreach effort to regions without a significant Navy presence, with over 300 Navy Weeks held in more than 95 different U.S. markets. Each year, the program reaches more than 150 million people — about half the U.S. population.

“Our mission is to connect with the heartbeat of each community and we strive to make a lasting impact on the Sailors, partners and community members,” said NAVCO Navy Week program manager, Lt. Caroline Ready. “We coordinate with corporations, civic and community service organizations, local government, educational institutions, media, and veterans to give the community as many opportunities as possible to engage with their Navy.”

By: Ensign Lamar Badger, U.S. Navy, Navy Office of Community Outreach

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Story

Memoir & Biography Writing Workshop at the Averitt Center

Next Story

Yesterday in the Georgia Legislature – 01/30/24

NEVER MISS A STORY!
Sign Up For Our  Newsletter
Get the latest headlines and stories - and even exclusive content!- sent right to your inbox.
Stay Updated
Give it a try, you can unsubscribe anytime.
close-link