Navy Week Program sets sail for Chicago
The U.S. Navy is preparing to bring a Navy Week to Chicago, during the week of Aug. 5-11, as the ninth Navy Week of the calendar year.
Chicago Navy Week will bring 50 to 75 Sailors from across the nation to volunteer throughout the community and discuss why the Navy matters to Chicago. This will be the fifth Navy Week hosted by Chicago and the surrounding communities. The program last visited Chicago in 2012.
Chicago Navy Week will feature in-person demonstrations, performances, and engagements throughout the week that will include:
• Senior Navy Leaders: Flag officer with ties to Chicago and the surrounding area.
• Namesake Sailors: Sailors serving aboard Virginia-class submarines USS Illinois (SSN 786) and USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN 795).
• U.S. Navy Band Great Lakes: Performances and master classes with Navy musicians.
• Naval History and Heritage Command: Educational presentations and lesson plans about the deep ties between Chicago and the Navy.
• USS Constitution: Demonstrations about the oldest commissioned ship in the Navy.
• U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command: Educational presentations on the importance of atmospheric and oceanographic science and the overall value of STEM education to the Navy.
• Navy Talent Acquisition Group: Educational presentations, community service projects and static displays.
Navy Weeks are the service’s signature outreach program, designed to allow the citizens of Chicago to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. The Navy Office of Community Outreach is responsible for coordinating Navy Weeks.
“We are thrilled to bring the Navy to Chicago,” 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.
“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.”