Oklahoma City Navy Week 2009 will offer several free activities to enable the public to experience the wide variety of jobs performed in the U.S. Navy. These activities include a USS OKLAHOMA CITY (SSN-723) Namesake Crew Visit, the Navy Band Mid South "Freedom", Navy Warrior Fitness Challenge, Navy Flyover, Blue Angels F/A-18 Flight Simulator, and Navy Theme-Wrapped Suburban.

(Official Small OKCNW09 bug/logo
– Please use when appropriate)

USS OKLAHOMA CITY (SSN 723) Namesake Crew Visit During OKC Navy Week
USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723), a Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her keel was laid down on 4 January 1984 and she was launched on 2 November 1985.

In 2005, OKC transited to her patrol area in the Pacific Ocean via the Arctic Ocean, the first such transit for a first-flight Los Angeles-class submarine. After the patrol, she then completed a circumnavigation of North America by transiting back to the Atlantic Ocean through the Panama Canal and returning to her homeport in Norfolk.

From May to November 2007, the Oklahoma City completed a deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of the War on Terror. The ship spent May to July 2008 in the Eastern Pacific. The Oklahoma City was responsible for seizing more than 11 metric tons of cocaine valued at more than $1.5 billion.

The ship was awarded the 2008 Squadron Eight Battle "E". On November 22, 2008, CDR Aaron M. Thieme relieved CDR Ed Mayer as Commanding Officer.

For more information about the USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723) you can visit the ship's Wikipedia page or their commanding officer's biography.

Los Angeles-class fast attack
submarine USS Oklahoma City
(SSN 723) arrives in Souda
Harbor for a port visit.

June 7, 2008
Delayed Entry Program (DEP) recruits Christine Wood, left, and Kristi Dennis get 1.5 mile run instructions from Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Samuel Armah during the Oklahoma City Navy Week Fitness Challenge. More than 20 cities throughout the United States will host Navy weeks in 2008 in an effort to increase awareness in metropolitan areas without a significant fleet presence. … more

The Navy Warrior Fitness Challenge at OCCC is a series of physical fitness events challenging athletes to maximize their performance in individual tests of strength and endurance. It closely mirrors the initial physical screening test given to anyone who desires to become a SEAL. The event consists of swimming, push ups, sit ups, pull-ups and running.

If you ever wondered how you stack against America's elite operations team, take the NavyWarrior Fitness Challenge and see how fit you really are!

Oklahoma City Navy Week's Warrior Fitness Challenge will be held on Saturday, June 20th from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm with 5 groups of approximately 30 participants.

Sign Up Now!

Location: Oklahoma City Community College
7777 South May Avenue Oklahoma City, OK 73159
405-682-1611 - OCCC website: www.occc.edu

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Navy Band Mid-South"Freedom"
Freedom is a dynamic, high-energy group of eight professional Navy musicians, specializing in a variety of today’s popular music. These versatile entertainers perform music from contemporary styles such as Hard Rock, Rap, Country (and Western) and Classic Rock. As the Navy’s premier rock band in the Mid-South, Freedom travels extensively to perform for audiences throughout an eleven-state region. This high energy band performs for student bodies at High Schools, Middle Schools, and Universities. Freedom can also conduct clinics on a variety of musical styles.

Freedom is a group dedicated to bringing the very best music of yesterday and today to the stage, wherever it may be!

Check out Navy Band Mid-South Freedom's new
demo on YouTube: NBMS Freedom Demo

Please visit the official Navy Band Mid-South "Freedom" web site at: NavyBand Mid-South Freedom

Navy Band Mid-South is the United States Navy’s premiere musical organization in the Mid-South region. The professional Navy musicians assigned to the band are all active duty service members performing full time for the Navy. Under the direction of Lieutenant Junior Grade David Latour, the ensembles within the band perform music ranging from Bach and Sousa to the most current pop, country, and jazz hits.

The band operates from Millington, Tennessee, and is responsible for an eleven-state area that stretches north into Indiana and Illinois, west into eastern Colorado, and south into Mississippi and Alabama. As well as a traditional military ceremonial unit, the band maintains the following musical ensembles that perform a wide variety of music.

Please visit the official Navy Band Mid-South
web site at: NavyBand Mid-South

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Navy Mid-South Rock Band "Freedom"
St. Louis Navy Week -
April 17, 2009
Musician 1st Class Jeremy Bustillos performs with the Navy rock band Freedom during a concert at Union Station. Freedom has numerous musical performances here for St. Louis Navy Week, scheduled for April 16-26. This Navy Week is one of 21 Navy Weeks 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 nothave a significant Navy presence.

Navy Flyover are the Navy’s strongest visual representation, to the American taxpayer, the skill and capabilities of the U.S. Navy’s Aviation Force.

Two MH-60S Seahawk helicopters, assigned to the "High Rollers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 85, and a Bell 205 helicopter fly above Petco Park prior to a San Diego Padres' game. …more

Students of Caesar Rodney High School stand in line to ride the Navy's F/A-18 Super Hornet Fighter Jet Flight Simulator during Philadelphia Navy Week. …more

The Blue Angel F/A-18 Flight Simulators provide the power to simultaneously involve and communicate with the community and prospective recruits. It is programmed to move in-sync with point of view imagery presented on a large screen at the front of the simulator capsule. Integrated premium quality digital projection and surround sound technology are also included to provide a true immersive experience.

The flight simulators features the live action ride film adventure “F-18 Carrier Experience.” Designed specifically to capture the imagination of the public and future Navy recruits, this ride film presents a pilot’s perspective of an aircraft carrier take-off and landing combined with low level flying. Additionally, a “Blue Angels” ride film is available for those that may enjoy a second opportunity to further experience U.S Navy life.

There is one 20 seat mobile simulators designed on 65 foot tractor trailers and one 8 seat simulator is constructed on top of a 45 foot long tractor trailer making it easily accessible to urban areas and small venues.

Both of the mobile simulators travel the 48 contiguous United States and are featured at air shows, state fairs, shopping malls, high schools, NASCAR events and Navy Fleet Weeks. The simulators are managed and operated by Pulseworks, the leading supplier of simulation attractions for entertainment, education and marketing exhibits worldwide.

They provide young men and women an opportunity to experience the U.S. Navy's hi-tech environment and get a sense of what it's like to be a part of the Navy’s winning team.

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Patrons at the Okra Strut Festival enjoy playing a game of Guitar Hero from the Navy Surburban during Columbia Navy Week. …more

The Navy Suburban is a Navy theme-wrapped vehicle. Out of the back of the suburban pops four interactive game stations where the public can play Sony SOCOM, a Navy SEAL inspired videogame.