Navy Week Sails Into Greenville, South Carolina

[Navy for Moms Admin]

Thought some of you might be interested to read about what happened at Greenville Navy Week!

091005-N-6220J-001 GREENVILLE, S.C. (Oct. 5, 2009) Will Martin, a Navy Delayed Entry Program enrollee from Wilmington, N.C., takes the Seal Team Challenge on the television show "Your Carolina With Jack and Kimberly" during the kickoff of Greenville Navy Week. Twenty-one Navy Weeks are planned across America in 2009. Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Steve Johnson/Released)

Release Date: 10/8/2009 5:07:00 PM
By Lt. Cmdr Lisa Braun, Navy Office of Community Outreach

GREENVILLE, S.C. (NNS) -- The Navy Office of Community Outreach (NAVCO), Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Raleigh and Navy Operational Support Center Greenville partnered this week to launch 'Greenville Navy Week' – one of 21 Navy Weeks being held across America in 2009.

Greenville Navy Week kicked off with performances by the U.S. Navy Fleet Forces Rock Band "Four Star Edition," as well as community service projects throughout the metro area which were supported by Sailors from Navy Operational Support Center Greenville and Navy Recruiting District Raleigh, and also visits to local high schools and colleges by Sailors and officers to talk about Navy careers and share their personal experiences.

The commanding officer of the Navy Operational Support Center, Greenville, Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Boardman, said he was proud of how Sailors at his command were stepping up to volunteer their time to the community.

"By us being out here, it shows the people of Greenville that the Navy does have a presence here," Boardman said. "Navy Week allows us to give back to the community because we're there to support the community, just like they are supporting us. It's our way to say 'Thank you' to them."

Educational displays such as the Navy Suburban, a wrapped Navy-theme media center on wheels equipped with video games, and the Accelerate Your Life Experience exhibit - a simulator designed to let visitors "feel" what it's like serving aboard an aircraft carrier – provided additional entertainment during Navy Week events at a variety of locations.

Rear Adm. Bill Goodwin, assistant chief of naval operations for next generation enterprise networks, is in town to commemorate the occasion, speaking with community organizations and schools, in addition to meeting with local business leaders.

On Wednesday, Goodwin met with leaders of the Urban League of the Upstate, Inc., Greenville, S.C., to speak on the U.S. Navy's commitment to diversity in its workforce, as well as the broad range of educational and career opportunities afforded Navy Sailors and Navy Officers alike.

"Our Navy is a wonderful organization that builds young people into leaders," Goodwin said. "It might build them only for four or five years. But I will tell you that when they come out of our military, they've changed, and it's good for our nation and our community."

Greenville's Mayor Knox White presented the city's "Navy Week Proclamation" to Goodwin during a ceremony Thursday afternoon which included a NJROTC color guard, a reaffirmation ceremony for five Delayed Entry Personnel, and a live performance by Four Star Edition.

Greenville Navy Week culminates this weekend with the Fall for Greenville Festival that kicks off Friday night, featuring a free public concert by Four Star Edition. The festival will also have Navy assets on display and Sailors participating in weekend festivities.

For more news from Navy Office of Community Outreach, visit www.navy.mil/local/navco/.