FLAGSTAFF — Sailors, Navy musicians and other military personnel are spending the week in Flagstaff for Navy Week, giving northern Arizona residents a chance to learn about the service and its career paths, ABC15 reported.
Navy Week runs Nov. 9-15 and is designed to connect the Navy with communities that don’t have a significant military presence, organizers said.
“I think that’s one of the reasons why we’re here in Flagstaff — to bring the Navy to those places that don’t necessarily have an immediate connection,” said Rear Adm. Mark Behning, commander of U.S. 2nd Fleet.
Behning, an Arizona native, pointed to the state’s Navy ties, including defense contractors and the U.S. Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station. He also noted the USS Arizona, a Virginia-class submarine under construction that will carry the state’s name into the future fleet.
Between 65 and 100 Navy personnel are expected to take part in events during the week, according to ABC15. They include sailors from submarines and surface ships, naval oceanographers, members of the Navy band and sailors from the USS Constitution.
The schedule includes chances to meet sailors from the USS Arizona submarine crew, Navy band performances, Veterans Day tributes and displays on the Navy’s history and mission.
Behning said the Navy has had strong recruiting years over the past three years. He said meeting sailors face to face could help someone discover an interest in serving or simply understand what Navy personnel do.
“Maybe they’ll make a connection with somebody. They’ll at least understand that there’s an opportunity for them,” he said.
He added that the visits also build community support for sailors and their families, especially while service members are deployed far from home.
Sources: ABC15. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Deborah Lee Soltesz / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.
