Leap Frogs Jump to Support Cincinnati Navy Week

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (PJ) Michelle Turner

CINCINNATI (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy parachute demonstration team, the Leap Frogs, performed several aerial parachute demonstrations across Cincinnati in support of the city's Navy Week, Sept. 1-4.

Navy Weeks raise awareness about the Navy in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence. They give communities across America the chance to see the investment they have made in their Navy and the chance to talk to Sailors face to face.

Chief of Navy Reserve Vice Adm. Dirk Debbink and Rear Adm. Anatolio Cruz, III, deputy commander, U.S. 4th Fleet, also participated in Cincinnati Navy Week, in addition to the U.S. Navy Band Washington D.C. "Cruisers", Sailors from guided-missile submarine USS Ohio (SSGN 726), Navy divers, and personnel from Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Ohio and Naval Operational Support Center.

Sailors attended a Cincinnati Reds vs. Philadelphia Phillies baseball game Sept. 1, giving spectators a chance to talk to them and ask questions about Navy life. Cmdr. Michael Hudson, commanding officer of NRD Ohio gave the oath of enlistment to 10 new Sailors on the field moments before the Leap Frogs began their performance.

A trail of smoke called an "early burn" indicated that the jumpers were ready to go and five jumpers launched themselves one by one from a Missouri Air National Guard C-130H cargo aircraft above the ballpark. Seconds later, their blue-and-gold canopies popped open and they began swirling colored smoke across the sky. The crowd cheered as each member approached the field wearing Cincinnati Reds jerseys.

With military members deployed worldwide, having the Leap Frogs participate in the opening ceremony was a huge honor, said Phillip J. Castellini, chief operating officer of the Cincinnati Reds.

"It's clearly one of the most interesting things we do in terms of pre-game ceremonies and we couldn't be more proud to have the SEALs here," said Castellini. "It's at the front of your mind more today than any time in my lifetime, how appreciative we are [of the military] and how many folks we have in harm's way all over the world. To be able to celebrate that before a game for us is special."

The team also performed at two high schools, Cincinnati Museum Center, Coney Island amusement park and River Fest Cincinnati, the cornerstone event for Cincinnati Navy Week.

"It's probably one of the cooler experiences I've ever had," said James Sansone, a spectator at River Fest. "You get shaky when you come up to someone who is this talented... I never thought I would ever meet a Navy SEAL, I never even thought I would see one! It was pretty incredible."

The Leap Frogs are based in San Diego and perform aerial parachute demonstrations across America in support of naval special warfare and Navy recruiting as a global force for good. The team is composed of parachuting experts from Naval Special Warfare including Navy SEALs, special warfare combatant-craft crewmen, and an NSW parachute rigger, in addition to support personnel.

For more information about the Leap Frogs, visit: www.leapfrogs.navy.mil. For more information about NSW programs and opportunities visit: www.sealswcc.com. For more news from U.S. Navy Parachute Team, visit Navy.mil/local/usnpt/.