Leap Frogs Perform at Lauderdale Air Show

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Luke Eastman, U.S Navy Parachute Team Public Affairs

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy parachute demonstration team, the Leap Frogs, performed at the 14th Lauderdale Air Show, April 27-28.

The Leap Frogs performed three of five scheduled jumps but had to cancel two jumps due to inclement weather.

The team jumped with members of the Army 101st Airborne Division parachute demonstration team, the Screaming Eagles. The Leap Frogs and the Screaming Eagles jumped from a CASA HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft, flown by members of Coast Guard Air Station Miami.

More than 2,000 spectators watched the practice jump during the air show rehearsal on Friday. The Leap Frogs performed a second jump for more than 3,000 people at the air show take-off event later that evening.

"It was the most impressive thing I've ever witnessed," said Dan Dees, a spectator at the take-off event. "What I found most exciting was the speed at which they came down. I couldn't believe they jumped with this wind and were able to make such pinpoint landings."

The Leap Frogs were scheduled to jump during the national anthem to start the air show on Saturday, but they had to cancel the performance due to high winds and low cloud cover. After a few hours, the weather cleared up and the team was able to jump outside the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino for a crowd of more than 500 people.

"The most exciting part was seeing the two guys tangle up together and do those tricks in the air," said Rafael Nieves, a spectator at the event. "This is the first time my kids have seen this and they're actually helping the SEALs pack their parachutes right now. It's a very cool experience. My son is only four years old but after seeing this today he told me it's something he wants to do when he gets older."

After the performance, members of the team showed spectators how to pack their parachutes. The Leap Frogs were also available to answer questions, sign autographs and pose for photographs.

"It's a great community event and a great way to bring the community together," said Jack Seiler, mayor of Fort Lauderdale. "More importantly it's a way for our community to show our admiration and appreciation for the men and women who serve this country. It's just fantastic and we thank all the men and women who sacrifice to serve this country; we really admire what they do."

Lauderdale Air Show is one of 35 major events on the Leap Frogs' schedule this year. The team is based in San Diego and performs aerial parachute demonstrations across America in support of Naval Special Warfare and Navy recruiting.

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 www.navy.mil/local/usnpt/.

Fleet Week Port Everglades Starts with 'Roll Call' at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Preston Paglinawan, Navy Region Southeast Pulic Affairs

PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. (NNS) -- More than 800 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen participated in the official beginning of the U.S. Navy's largest community outreach effort in south Florida April 25 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

The All Hands on Deck Welcoming Party and "roll call," a Fleet Week Port Everglades mainstay hosted by Broward Navy Days, local Navy leagues, city and county officials, served as a platform for the city of Hollywood, Fla. - bordered by Port Everglades, Fla., and 25 miles from Miami - to welcome Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen to a city with no significant U.S. Navy presence.

Broward Navy Days Treasurer Colleen Lockwood said Hollywood, Fla., and the surrounding municipalities anticipate the week-long Fleet Week Port Everglades event each year, now in its 22nd iteration.

"We love the fact that we have our active duty military in town," she said. "It's exciting and [Sailors] go out and do projects for churches, hospitals, schools and charities."

Fleet Week Port Everglades is a weeklong event hosted by Broward Navy Days and local Navy Leagues, and is designed to showcase the sea services, honor the men and women of the sea services through public events and recognition, and provide the sea services an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of surface platforms, equipment and the skills of the men and women serving aboard these vessels.

Service members from multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Gettysburg (CG 64), Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS DeWert (FFG 45), U.S. Coast Guard cutter Bernard C. Webber, the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700), as well as U.S. Marines from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit are scheduled to participate in a number of community outreach activities as well as enjoy the hospitality and tourism of South Florida during Fleet Week Port Everglades.

Service members from the five visiting ships and submarine along with thousands of residents from the south Florida community attended the four-hour function, which included a free buffet dinner, a traditional exchange of plaques between visiting ship's commanding officers and city and county officials and an opportunity for community members to interact with service members.

"I'm certainly glad that the Navy and Marine Corps came together today to have a good time because they all do a great job for our country and they deserve to have some good r&r," said Nashville, Tenn., resident and Fleet Week Port Everglades visitor Mary Rollins.

The welcoming party also included a "roll call" from each of the visiting ships. After the introduction of each vessel's commanding officer, service members in ranks provided a "call," representing their ship.

Hard Rock Cafe Welcomes Fleet Week to NYC

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Richard M. Wolff, Fleet Week New York Public Affairs

NEW YORK (NNS) -- Morale, Welfare and Recreation hosted a Fleet Week New York City 2011 kick-off party at the Hard Rock Cafe May 25 with free food and a concert by the Orange County Choppers Band for Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen.

The Hard Rock kick-off happens every year and was an exciting experience for many service members, especially those who have never been to New York City. Operations Specialist Third Class (SW) Eren Heim, a Georgia native, was very excited when she heard that members from OCC were part of the kick-off party. "I've been watching their show for years. I think it is amazing, especially to see them here supporting our military."

For Heim, this is her first visit to New York City and one she will never forget. "I didn't expect so many people to support the military like this, everyone wants to take our picture, it's like we're celebrities too."

Orange County Choppers have a hit TV show that focuses on making stunning, unique motorcycles in the "chopper" style. They use their fame to support a number of good causes and are huge advocates for our American fighting men and women. "We support the military all the time, any way we can," said Mike Ammiradi of OCC. "What you guys do for us is the greatest thing in the world."

"I like what OCC does with charities, donating bikes and helping children," said Cryptologic Technician-Technical Second Class Larry Jamison, a Sailor off of the USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7). This was also Jamison's first time to New York City, "It's pretty cool, I like it. So far everybody's been really friendly and it's been a good experience. It's a lot bigger than I anticipated."

For many aboard USS Iwo Jima, this is their second year in a row participating in Fleet Week New York.

Cryptologic Technician-Collection Second Class (SW) Zachariah Adkins plans to see some of the sites he didn't have time to see last year. "I plan to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Natural History and the Bronx Zoo, and it's great that these places are free for the Sailors to visit."

Fleet Week has been New York City's celebration of the sea services nearly every year since 1984. It is an unparalleled opportunity for citizens of New York and the surrounding Tri-State area to meet Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen, as well as see, first-hand, the latest capabilities of today's maritime services.

In addition to public visitation of participating ships, there will be a number of exhibits showing off the technology of the maritime services and the skilled expertise of our service members.