Celebrating Oklahoma City Navy Week

Sailors from across the United States are in Oklahoma City, May 27-June 2, to show the Navy to the community. Oklahoma City Navy Week’s major highlights include senior Navy leadership; Sailors from locally assigned units such as Strategic Communications Wing (STRATCOMMWING); Sailors from the oldest warship afloat, USS Constitution; Navy Band Southwest performances; and the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron “Blue Angels,” that will perform at the Star Spangled Salute Air Show at Tinker Air Force Base. There is also a virtual reality experience provided by Navy Recruiting District Dallas, and Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial.

During Oklahoma City Navy Week, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Greg Slavonic met with corporate, civic, education and government leaders in an effort to increase awareness of the Navy, its mission and the importance of the Navy to the people of Oklahoma City. He also penned the following article:

America’s Navy: The Navy our Nation Needs

Greg Slavonic

Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower & Reserve Affairs

Over the last decade, much of our attention has focused on military forces in the Middle East. America’s Navy has continued to be a global force critical to the security of our nation and our interests — no matter where they are.

Oklahoma City is the host city for “Oklahoma City Navy Week” May 27-June 2. Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence. With the challenges our country faces today, the Navy’s job is continually growing.

The importance of the Navy is nothing new to Oklahomans. Like all Americans, Oklahomans have a vested interest in a strong, global U.S. Navy. On any day, the Navy and Marine Corps might be called on to attack a terrorist camp, keep watch over a potential conflict, capture a pirate vessel, or deliver emergency relief anywhere in the world.

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt presents a Navy Week proclamation to Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Gregory J. Slavonic. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Allen Michael McNair/Released)

The Navy is ideally suited for this kind of mission because it’s fast, agile and flexible. It can go anywhere on the ocean on short notice, and do all its work from water.

Our Navy is the military branch that fights on the water in ships, under the water in submarines, and over the water in planes that take off and land on Navy aircraft carriers. This capability is vital and gives the Navy the power to protect America’s interests – anytime, anywhere.

Think 70-80-90:

Water covers about 70 percent of the Earth’s surface.
About 80 percent of the world’s population lives near the ocean.
About 90 percent of all international trade travels by sea.

What happens on the water is critical to American security, preservation of American jobs, and peace worldwide. It is vital to national defense and our ability to protect our interests on, under and over the water.

Navy planes fly about half the aerial combat missions in Afghanistan.

Navy SEAL teams carry out special operations worldwide. In a humanitarian crisis, the Navy can provide supplies and hospital-quality medical care.

For these missions, the Navy requires courageous, highly trained men and women. Fortunately, that’s exactly who we have. More than 1,700 sailors are at Strategic Communications Wing ONE at Tinker Air Force Base, the NROTC Unit at University of Oklahoma, several JNROTC units and 600 Marines at Ft. Sill in Lawton. We have a submarine named USS Oklahoma City, surface ship named USS Tulsa, amphibious transport ship named to honor a fellow Oklahoman LT Richard McCool (Medal of Honor recipient), and a battleship named USS Oklahoma which was attacked and sunk at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This is a Navy state.

Oklahoma City hosts Navy Week from May 27 to June 2. Sailors come to the city to share their stories, remember the importance of a fast, flexible force provided by sea power and the Navy. This way, the Navy protects America more than ever.

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