The arrival of a new year means that the Navy will once again tour the entire country to “tell their story”. It is time, once again, for Navy Week!

Navy Week is all about bringing the Navy to the people. More often than not, we in the civilian population will have a rather vague and abstract understanding of what the Navy is about and what it means to be in the Navy. And while matters of national security will bar civilians from ever knowing what goes on in the Navy a hundred percent, it does help that the Navy tries to at least help people gain an understanding on what they stand for and what makes their work important. Who knows? The Navy may even attract a few recruits here and there, as they share the opportunities that are available in the Navy of today!

Navy Week celebrations are usually scheduled to coincide with important events in a particular place or town, and will be full of Navy-related events such as performances by the rather popular Blue Angels, Leap Frogs and the Navy Band. There will also be EOD dive tanks, flight simulators and SEAL Fitness Challenges. These activities aim to give the general public a rare personal glimpse into the men and women who serve in the Navy. On hand during Navy Week will be Admirals and Navy sailors who may be sons and daughters of the host cities.

Navy Week will be celebrated in the following cities in 2010: Tampa Bay, Florida on March 13 to 21 during Airfest; Phoenix, Arizona on March 22 to 29 during Baseball Spring Training; Charleston, South Carolina on April 12 to 18 during Air Expo; San Antonio, Texas on April 15 – 25 during Fiesta San Antonio; Des Moines, Iowa on April 19 to 24 during Drake Relays; Kansas City, Missouri on April 24 to May 2 during the Sound of Speed Air Show; Birmingham, Alabama on May 2 to 9 during the Tuscaloosa Air Show; Spokane, Washington on May 8 to 16 during the Lilac Festival; and Little Rock, Arkansas on May 24 to 30 during Riverfest.

During the summer, Navy Week will be at Milwaukee, Wisconsin on June 7 to 13 during the Milwaukee Air and Water Show; Boston, Massachusetts on June 30 to July 7 during Harbor Fest; Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 18 to 25 during Aquatennial; Chicago, Illinois on August 7 to 15 during the 52nd Annual Air and Water Show; and Boise, Idaho on August 20 to 29 during the Western Idaho Fair.

Navy Week will also go to Baltimore, Maryland on August 28 to September 6 during the Maryland State Fair; Cleveland, Ohio on August 30 to September 6 during the Cleveland National Airshow; St. Loius, Missouri on September 6 to 12 during the St. Louis Airshow; Salt Lake City, Utah on September 9 to 19 during the Utah State Fair; Atlanta, Georgia on October 11 to 17 during the Wings over Marietta Airshow; and Dallas, Texas, on October 25 to 31 during the Fort Worth Alliance Airshow.