On the morning of Thursday, December 12, at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington DC, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Commander, Navy Recruiting Command Rear Admiral James P. Waters, and other senior Navy leaders will formally commission the Navy's new 'Strike Group,' a cutting-edge, multi-scenario, mixed-reality experience that represents the latest innovation in the realm of U.S. military recruiting. (Video preview of the 'Strike Group.') In the evening, Navy leaders will honor the 2024 Navy Recruiters of the Year and celebrate the Navy's recruiting success in FY24.
"Recruiting was a great news story for the Navy in 2024," said Franchetti. "We exceeded our recruiting goal of 46,000, bringing in 40,978 brand new Sailors, and all of our recruiting stations have been supporting Fleet Weeks around the country and introducing the American people to their Navy."
The 'Strike Group' experience is designed to showcase the breadth and depth of Navy STEM careers, from nuclear engineering and aviation to special warfare and medicine - a range of opportunities that no other military or private sector path can match. Through leading-edge mixed reality, the 'Strike Group' provides users with a fully immersive, hands-on look into the technology and teamwork that are central to every role in the Navy.
"From the depths of the sea to the heights of the stars, America's Navy is the most highly skilled, technologically advanced military force in the world," says Waters. "A career in the Navy provides a life-changing experience filled with adventure, teamwork, and support, and the 'Strike Group' brings all of these aspects to life in the most realistic ways possible."
'Strike Group' comprises 7 distinctive, interactive challenges and experiences:
· All Hands
Players will test their skills on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier in a five-person virtual reality game. Participants will don a Meta Quest 3 headset and be transported out to the USS Gerald R. Ford where they will team up to launch an F-35C Lightning II jet. Working together in different roles - from loading fuel to flying helicopters to piloting the aircraft itself - each player will be immersed in the experience of what it is like to serve aboard an aircraft carrier and have their efforts influence a Navy mission.
· Support
The Navy conducts humanitarian missions around the globe through a variety of ship platforms and communities. Participants will navigate an interactive map of the world with a range of Navy ships and vehicles to explore the breadth and depth of these operations at strategic, geographic locations. Each vehicle will trigger an educational experience, not only about the mission, but also about the potential careers to help provide aid to communities worldwide.
· Fly
Players will experience Naval aviation like never before. This full-motion flight simulator will drop participants into the cockpit of an F-35C Lightning II, where they'll launch from an aircraft carrier with
their wingman on a training mission. With some up-front tutorials, users will learn to maneuver the aircraft prior to engaging in a mission to drop munitions on a practice target, and then land safely back on the carrier.
· Dive
Navy Underwater Construction Teams always are on call if an undersea repair is needed. In this interactive, virtual mission, participants will take on the role of a Navy diver, driving a boat to a location after a storm, then use their dive and welding skills to help repair a damaged pier.
· Achieve
America's Navy has hundreds of roles available in every field - from nuclear engineering to aviation to special operations. To help participants see themselves in one of these careers, they can take a personality quiz that will pair them with a list of jobs best suited for them. The best part? Participants also will receive an AI-generated image of themselves in their recommended role.
· Seek
Few people ever get to experience life inside a Navy submarine. To showcase the "Silent Service," participants will undergo a real-life submarine mission - an Ice Exercise (ICEX) near the North Pole. Players will work together and use their skills in nuclear propulsion, sonar, and navigation to successfully break through the thick sea ice during the Arctic Ocean operation.
· Train
Navy SEALs have a legacy of strenuous training and intense qualifications. In this experience, a Navy SEAL trainer will guide participants through a series of challenges that will test their physical strength, mental fortitude, and willpower.
Why It Is Called the 'Strike Group'
The new 'Strike Group' interactive experience is modeled after the Navy's modern carrier strike groups (CSGs). When deployed these CSGs are comprised of roughly 7,500 personnel, 1 aircraft carrier with an embarked air wing of 65 to 70 aircraft, a guided missile cruiser, and a destroyer squadron with three or more guided missile destroyers. Carrier Strike Groups extend the Navy's warfighting reach, epitomize the leading-edge technology and teamwork that are synonymous with Navy life. The Navy currently maintains 11 carrier strike groups, 10 of which are based in the United States and one that is forward deployed in Japan.
Media Opportunity
CNO Commissioning of the Navy's New 'Strike Group'/Celebration of the Navy's Recruiters of the Year
Thursday, December 12, 2024
The Granite Sea at the U.S. Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20004
Schedule of Events
10:30 am - Strike Group Commissioning Ceremony Kickoff
10:40-10:50 am - Silent Drill Team Performance
10:50-11 am - Ribbon Cutting
11 am-6 pm - Strike Group Tours Open to the Public
6-6:30 pm - Recruiters of the Year (ROY) Ceremony Kickoff
6:30-8:30 pm - Reception
