America's Navy Makes Impact at 2014 Summer X-Games

By Burrell Parmer, Navy Recruiting District San Antonio Public Affairs

AUSTIN, Texas (NNS) -- Sailors from Navy Recruiting District (NRD) San Antonio, Navy Information Operations Command-Texas, Navy Special Operations teams, Navy STEM tour, and a social media team made their presence known at the Summer X-Games held at the Circuit of the Americas, June 5-8.

The Navy, supported by the its advertising agency, Lowe Campbell Ewald, targeted young athletes and attendees with location-based social media efforts, while increasing Navy Awareness.

Additional participants included Sailors from Navy Recruiting Command's (NRC) Warrior Challenge, Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Training and Evaluation Unit-2, Special Boat Unit-22, and the Navy Parachute Team, the "Leapfrogs".

Thousands of attendees visited America's Navy's area and took the opportunity to man a special operations craft, pose with the Navy's chalk art, don an EOD suit and accept the Warrior Challenge, along with many other activities.

Everarvo Galvez of We Talk Chalk, Inc., maker of the Navy's 3-D street painting traveled from Los Angeles to install the chalk art.

"Seems that everyone is enjoying it," said Galvez. "Not only is it fun for the family, but it helps promote Navy Awareness of one of the Navy's special programs."

One of the major events was the Warrior Challenge, were hundreds of men, women and children signed up to demonstrate their strength and endurance by performing maximum pull-ups.

"With more than 450 participants in this year's Warrior Challenge at Summer X-Games, the pull-up contest has led to more than 100 qualified leads into any one of the five Warrior Challenge programs," said Senior Chief Master Diver Joe Cannon, Center for EOD and Diving liaison for NRC. "This year's number have proven to mean money well spent here in Austin."

In addition to the pull-up competition, 2013 BMX big air gold medalist, Morgan Wade and 2013 Skateboard big air gold medalist, Elliot Sloan were on-hand for autograph signings and photos at the Navy's booth.

During X-Games, the Leapfrogs took to the air and provided a patriotic parachute jump into the MOTO X area. Additionally, they perform a combined jump with the GoPro Skydive Team.

As part of X-Games, Chief Navy Counselor Orlando Bullock, a division leading chief petty officer with NRD San Antonio, presented medals to the winners of Men's Enduro X and Cannon awarded medals to the winners of Skateboard Big Air.

"X Games Austin was a dynamic way to communicate about today's Navy through national and social media," said Cmdr. Corry Juedeman, commanding officer, NRD San Antonio. "Our presence significantly increased Navy awareness and provided thousands with information about our programs."

According to Cmdr. Brent Phillips, NRC marketing and advertising director, the Navy's presence at the X-Games has been very successful in reaching young adults interested in opportunities with the Navy.

"This was the Navy's 14th year in partnering with the X-Games," said Phillips. "It was our intent to showcase America's Navy at one of the top athletic events of the summer."