The Navy Week is held in conjunction with Mobile’s peak Mardi Gras Season where sailors from across the fleet will converge on the city and surrounding areas to emphasize the importance of the Navy to Mobile, the state of Alabama, and the nation.
Navy organizations including Navy Band Southeast, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2, USS Constitution, United States Ceremonial Guard, Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) New Orleans, Navy History and Heritage Command, Sailors from the namesake ships USS Alabama (SSBN 731) and USS Mobile (LCS 26), the Fleet Ambassador Team, Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Center, and the Fleet Survey Team will participate in a variety of community outreach events.
Every Sailor selected to participate in Mobile Navy Week, except those with an approved waiver for health or religious reasons, will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Furthermore, the Navy Office of Community Outreach will work closely with community partners in Mobile and follow guidance from public health officials.
The Navy's senior executive host is Rear Admiral Dion English, director, logistics, fleet supply and ordnance, U.S. Pacific Fleet, who will participate in community engagements as well as meet with local businesses, and civic, education, and government leaders.
“I am excited to represent the Navy and engage with the city of Mobile and the great state of Alabama,” said English. “Mobile has a rich Naval history, with 34 ships having been named for the state, its cities, and people, including the nuclear-powered submarine USS Alabama and the littoral combat ship USS Mobile. The city of Mobile and its citizens embody a sense of pride, professionalism and commitment to its armed forces. Those qualities are consistent with the Navy’s service ethos and have attracted more than six thousand active and reserve force Sailors to join our ranks. Those qualities also continue to connect the citizens of the area to our nation’s maritime services, specifically our Navy.”
Navy Weeks are a series of outreach events coordinated by the Navy Office of Community Outreach designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people, and its importance to national security and prosperity. 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, providing the public a firsthand look at why the Navy matters to Mobile.
“During a Navy Week, the Navy conducts approximately 75 outreach events with corporate, civic, government, education, media, veterans, community service, and diversity organizations in the city," said CDR John Fage, director Navy Office of Community Outreach. "We are very excited to bring Navy Week to Mobile. Navy Weeks give us the opportunity to help connect Americans to their Navy. We are looking forward to safely and responsibly building those connections in Mobile area and showing everyone why their Navy is so important."
Throughout the week, Sailors will participate in various community events across the area including volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, Feeding the Gulf Coast and Food Pantry at Central. Residents will also enjoy free live music by Navy Band Southeast at venues throughout the week including the Exploreum and GulfQuest Maritime Museum.
The week will conclude with festive parades on ‘Fat Tuesday’, March 1, and Sailors from namesake ships marching in conjunction with Navy Band Southeast. The citizens will be able to interact with Sailors throughout the day.
Mobile Navy Week is one of 14 Navy Weeks in 2022, focusing a variety of assets, equipment, and personnel on a single city for a weeklong series of engagements designed to bring America's Navy closer to the people it protects. Each year, the program reaches more than 140 million people -- about half the U.S. population.
For more information on Mobile Navy Week, visit https://www.outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks-2022/Mobile-2022/.
Media organizations wishing to cover Mobile Navy Week events should contact Mr. Isaiah Sellers at (901) 229-5631 or isaiah.sellers.civ@us.navy.mil.