United States Navy Football – A Very Proud Tradition

 

The first Navy football game took place in 1879. Since that time,  the familiar blue and
gold football uniforms have helped created one of the most familiar traditions
in the history of college athletics. However, these Navy football players aren’t just
scoring on the gridiron, they are also some of the finest acadamians in the country, too.
This unique combination of athletics and academics ensures that only the
best of the best will graduate from the United States Naval Academy and
become the Navy’s finest.

All of the students at the Naval Academy will choose one of 43 different majors that
focus on 19 fields of study. In order to compete in one of the many athletic programs,
midshipmen must meet the stringent NCAA eligibility requirements, including those requirements
that deal with academic progress. If the eligibility requirements are not met,
there could be sanctions against the entire team, including fines and penalties.

The familiar blue and gold colors of Navy athletics were adopted back in 1892.
The Naval Academy Class of 1890 first used these colors and within two years, the Athletic Association
conferred with the Cadets to adopt these colors as the now familiar Academy colors.
The mascot has a different history. In 1893, a goat known as “El Cid” (The Chief) was
used as the Navy athletic teams’ mascot.

This goat is credited with helping the Navy football team beat their long time rival, the Army, that year.
However, there are other animals that have served as the team mascots.
These include a dog, a carrier pigeon, and two cats. In 1904, goats became the permanent mascot for
all of the Navy athletic teams. There are three goats that currently serve as mascots: Bill XXXII, XXXIII, and
XXXIV. Fifteen goathandlers take care of these mascots. Those goathandlers are five midshipmen
that are chosen from each class of first, second, and third year students.
There’s a lot of training that goes with becoming a goathandler and a bit of respect, as well!

There are a few other traditions that always accompany the Navy Football team. For example,
the “E” Bell rings whenever Navy beats Army in any of the three seasons of sports.
This bell is from the bridge of USS Enterprise, a famed World War II aircraft carrier.
It’s been a tradition since 1950. The Gokokuji Bell is a replica of a bell that was brought to
the United States by Commodore Matthew Perry in 1854. The original bell, which was donated to
the Academy by his widow, was returned to Okinawa in 1987. This bell is also rung each time the
team scores a football victory over their Army rivals. This bell sits in front of Bancroft Hall in Annapolis.

Midshipmen, also called Mids, is what the Navy sports teams are called. The members of the
various varsity teams who earn a varsity letter also receive an “N-Star” if they are part of a team
that beats an Army team in one of the many “Star” competitions. In recent years, the Navy has
certainly been a dominate force against the Army’s West Point teams.
The Navy has won the N-Star Competition for the last twelve years.

One of the best ways to recognize a Navy football team member is with Navy football rings.
You can easily design a Navy football ring online and have it shipped directly to the cadet at Annapolis.
Imagine their surprise when their Navy football ring arrives!

For more information on Navy rings, click here

The long proud History of the Navy Reserve

Officially formed in 1915, the Navy Reserve has maintained a proud heritage and
history long before that date. Before becoming officially recognized,
Citizen Sailors would raid British commerce ships,
patrol the Chesapeake Bay to defend against British invasion, and
destroy Confederate ships during the Civil War.

Josephus Daniels and Franklin Roosevelt would ultimately be responsible
for the creation of the Navy Reserve Force. One of the first missions of this
new force would be to hunt enemy U-boats with biplanes.
Five future presidents would serve as part of the Navy Reserve – George W. Bush,
Gerald Ford, Richard Nixon, Lyndon B. Johnson, and John F. Kennedy.

By World War II, almost every Navy Reservists would be on active duty.
From this time forward, the Navy Reserve would mobilize in huge numbers to
respond to various parts of the world. From the Korean War to the Vietnam conflict,
the Navy Reserve would expand, but with a greater focus on supporting active duty Navy forces.

Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm would require more than 21,000 Navy Reservists to be
called to active duty. There was less of distinction between active duty Navy and
Navy Reservists in terms of mission and operations during this time. Many Navy Reservists
are deployed in the Persian Gulf and other locations around the world in
support of ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Today, 20 percent of the Navy is made up of Reservists. The contribution of these sailors is
as vital as ever before. Their missions include everything from preventing conflicts to combat
to humanitarian aid and relief. The Navy Reserve is without a doubt one of the reasons
why this country is safe and secure today.

If you or a loved one have served  in the Navy Reserve, you should consider honoring that
service with a Navy ring. There are many styles to choose from, including a signet ring design and
one that resembles a class ring. Each side of the Navy ring can be personalized with a
unique insignia or emblem. You can even put a symbol underneath a semi-precious stone on the top.
Choose from gold, silver, or platinum metal. There are both male and female styles available.

Because you can individualize a Navy ring, it makes a fantastic gift for anyone who has served or
is serving in the Navy Reserve. You can have the inside of the band engraved with a short message,
date, or initials. Each Navy ring is made when ordered and it takes about two to three weeks for delivery.
You can place your order right online and have it shipped almost anywhere in the world.

Ordering is easy and will only take you a few minutes. However, this Navy ring will become a wonderful
heirloom for generations to come. It’s one of the best ways to show your appreciation for the service and
sacrifice by these Navy Reservists. Make sure that the sailor in your life has a beautiful Navy ring
to show how much you care.

We source and sell a range of Navy Gifts, please click here for more information.

United States Navy Football – A Very Proud Tradition

The first Navy football game took place in 1879.
Since that time, the familiar blue and gold football uniforms
have helped created one of the most familiar traditions in the
history of college athletics.

However, these Navy football players aren’t just scoring on the gridiron,
they are also some of the finest acadamians in the country, too.
This unique combination of athletics and academics ensures that only
the best of the best will graduate from the United States
Naval Academy and become the Navy’s finest.

All of the students at the Naval Academy will choose one of 43 different majors that focus on 19 fields of study.
In order to compete in one of the many athletic programs, midshipmen must meet the stringent NCAA
eligibility requirements, including those requirements that deal with academic progress.
If the eligibility requirements are not met, there could be sanctions against the entire team,
including fines and penalties.

The familiar blue and gold colors of Navy athletics were adopted back in 1892. The Naval Academy
Class of 1890 first used these colors and within two years, the Athletic Association conferred with
the Cadets to adopt these colors as the now familiar Academy colors. The mascot has a different history.
In 1893, a goat known as “El Cid” (The Chief) was used as the Navy athletic teams’ mascot.

This goat is credited with helping the Navy football team beat their long time rival, the Army, that year.
However, there are other animals that have served as the team mascots.

These include a dog, a carrier pigeon, and two cats. In 1904, goats became the permanent mascot for
all of the Navy athletic teams. There are three goats that currently serve as mascots: Bill XXXII, XXXIII, and
XXXIV. Fifteen goathandlers take care of these mascots.

Those goathandlers are five midshipmen that are chosen from each class of first, second, and
third year students. There’s a lot of training that goes with becoming a goathandler and a bit of respect, as well!

There are a few other traditions that always accompany the Navy Football team. For example,
the “E” Bell rings whenever Navy beats Army in any of the three seasons of sports.
This bell is from the bridge of USS Enterprise, a famed World War II aircraft carrier.

It’s been a tradition since 1950. The Gokokuji Bell is a replica of a bell that was brought to the United States
by Commodore Matthew Perry in 1854. The original bell, which was donated to the Academy by his widow,
was returned to Okinawa in 1987. This bell is also rung each time the team scores a football victory
over their Army rivals. This bell sits in front of Bancroft Hall in Annapolis.

Midshipmen, also called Mids, is what the Navy sports teams are called.
The members of the various varsity teams who earn a varsity letter also receive an “N-Star” if they are
part of a team that beats an Army team in one of the many “Star” competitions. In recent years,
the Navy has certainly been a dominate force against the Army’s West Point teams.
The Navy has won the N-Star Competition for the last twelve years.

One of the best ways to recognize a Navy football team member is with Navy football Rings.
You can easily design a Navy football ring online and have it shipped directly to the cadet at Annapolis.
Imagine their surprise when their Navy football ring arrives!

We promote a range of Military Gifts for more information see our Gifts here.

USS George Washington submarine

The USS George Washington was the lead ship in a class of submarines.
Launched in June 1959, it was named after the first President of the United States.
It was built as a warship and had two commanders.
The Blue crew’s commander was James B. Osborn and
the Gold crew’s commander was John L. From, Jr.

The first mission of the USS George Washington was to test
fire ballistic missiles to ensure the capabilities.

The first Polaris missile launch from a submarine occurred on July 20, 1960.
The second occurred that day as well, impacting an area 1,100 miles away.

The Gold crew of the USS George Washington launched to more missiles on July 30, 1960,
only this time the submarine was submerged.

From then on, the submarine would be loaded with 16 ballistic missiles.
Its first patrol was 66 days long. When arriving at the Naval Submarine Base New London,
the Gold crew took over. This would continue until 1964 until the USS George Washington
was put into refuel after cruising over 100,000 nautical miles.

When she next departed, she would transfer commands to the United States Pacific Fleet,
with a home port at Pearl Harbor.

The USS George Washington primary mission was deterrent patrols in the Pacific Ocean.
In 1981, she collided with the Nissho Maru, which was a 2,350 ton commercial cargo ship belonging to Japan.
It sank in only 15 minutes. Thirteen crew members of the Nissho Maru were rescued by two were lost.

Japan was not notified until 24 hours after the collision and the incident created tension between the two countries.
The primary cause for the tension was that the USS George Washington was only about 20 miles from
Japan’s territorial waters. There was reportedly no attempt at rescue by the USS George Washington.

The United States would apologize and offer compensation to the families of the lost soldiers.
While the U.S. would never reveal what it was doing so close to Japanese waters, the Navy did
accept responsibility for the accident. In 1983, the ballistic missiles from the USS George Washington
were removed in accordance with the SALT I treaty. The final numbers for the nuclear submarine
known as the “Georgefish” were 55 deterrent patrols in both the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans
over a span of 25 years.

The USS George Washington would continue in service as an attack submarine, but only for a couple more years.
It was decommissioned in 1985 and the recycling of the submarine was completed in 1998.

If you or a loved one served on the USS George Washington, you should consider ordering one of the
beautiful Navy rings as a proud reminder of this vessel. There are many symbols and insignia from
the USS George Washington that can be engraved into the sides of Navy rings.

This would make a wonderful gift for a veteran who was part of this piece of U.S. Navy history.
Ordering is easy and it can be shipped almost anywhere in the world. For those that served aboard
the USS George Washington, there is no better reminder than Navy Rings.

For more information on Military rings, click here

Navy Gifts for Father’s day

The United States Navy is the career choice for many fathers that
want to provide for their families while protecting and
serving this great country.

It’s not an easy job to do, as many fathers are separated from their
children for months on end while they serve aboard ships,
submarines, and at naval installations abroad.
If you’re looking for some great Father’s Day Gift ideas,
then the information below will certainly give you some inspiration.

Some Navy gifts for Father’s Day will depend on how old the gift-giver is.

For small children, consider giving a coffee cup with the message, “My Daddy is in the Navy” or something similar.

Messages like this can be added to t-shirts, picture frames, or other personalized Navy gifts.
Add a picture of the children to the shirts, coffee cups, or picture frames and give Dad a great gift that
he will treasure for years to come.

For older children, there are some Navy gifts for Father’s Day, too.
Books about the history of the Navy or of their ships and submarines are a great choice.
Models of the same would also be much appreciated, especially ones that can be worked on as a project for
both the father and child.

A display case that is filled with medals, patches, pictures, and other items is also a great gift idea.
The child will enjoy putting it together.

Adults can certainly get in on giving Navy gifts for Father’s Day, too.
Is your dad retired from the Navy? If so, there are several great Navy veterans’ gifts that
are sure to put a smile on his face.

You’ll find some great jewelry, such as Navy rings, necklaces, and watches.
Each can be personalized with an inscription that will make this give extra-special.
These gifts are often handed down as treasured heirlooms to children and grandchildren.

You will find some fun gifts that are available, too.
There are tons of clothing designs that poke fun at another branch of the military.
The branches are always in competition with one another.
How about a pair of sexy boxy briefs with the Navy crest on them?
You will find a wide variety of humorous Navy gifts that are sure to bring a smile to your sailor’s face.

All of the above gifts are available online, but be sure you check out the shipping and
handling charges before you place your order. In addition,
if you are shipping the Navy gifts overseas, make sure the items are allowed by the country’s customs.

For example, many countries do not allow alcohol. You don’t want your gifts confiscated by customs
agents and never reaching the intended recipient.

Remember this Father’s Day with a great Navy gift for your father or husband.
For those that are stationed overseas, this is one holiday that will certainly
be missed in the company of family, friends, and other loved ones.
Be sure that your sailor knows just how much you appreciate his service and dedication.

We source and sell a range of Navy Gifts, please click here for more information.

HS-14: helicopter antisubmarine squadron 14

The HS-14 is a helicopter anti-submarine squadron that is permanently
deployed \ aboard the USS George Washington.
Currently, the Seahawk HH-60H and the SH-60F are part of the squadron.

As members of the Carrier Air Wing FIVE, the HS-14 is under the command
of the Helicopter Sea Combat Wing. It’s unique in that it’s the largest squadron
of its kind in the United States Navy, with 12 helicopters and
284 officers and enlisted personnel.

The primary mission of this squadron is to detect and destroy small vessels and enemy submarines.
Search and Rescue, Special Warfare Operations, and Anti-ship Missile Defense are
also important roles for the squadron. Established in 1984 in San Diego, the squadron was initially
aboard the USS Ranger.

In 1989, HS-14 was an integral part of a rescue operation when they performed search and
rescue operations of 37 refugees from Vietnam.

In 1991, the HS-14 had an important role in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield.
Responsible for the capture of four Iraqi commandos, the destruction of two anti-shipping mines, and
the destruction of one Iraqi gunboat, the HS-14 showed why this squadron was so beneficial.
In 1992, the squadron deployed to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope. One of the operational
commanders wrote that the first ten days of the operation would not have been successful without the HS-14.

Permanently assigned to Atsugi, Japan in 1994, the HS-14 would redeploy to Persian Gulf again
in 1998 and 1999.  By 2002, the squadron was part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
This time the squadron was deployed aboard the USS Kitty Hawk.

During this deployment, the squadron would be responsible for the recovery of a pilot of  downed CVW-5.
In 2004, the HS-14 would work closely with the crew of the USS Lake Champlain, the USS Gary, and
the United States Air Force Pararescuemen to locate the wreckage of a S-3B Viking that crashed on
a very remote island, Kita Iwo Jima. They were able to recover parts of the wreckage and
the remains of the crew.

The HS-14 provided humanitarian aid during 2004, when two typhoons struck the Philippines.
In 2011, the HS-14 has been conducting ongoing humanitarian aid flights to Japan
after the earthquake in March. It is expected that these flights will continue for several months as
Japan tries to recover from this tragedy.

If you or a loved one have served in the HS-14, then consider honoring that service with one of
the many styles of Navy rings. You can add the logo from the HS-14 Squadron on the side of the
ring or even under the semi-precious stone on the top. There are over 100 insignia and emblems
available to choose from and placing an order is quite simple. Navy rings give you a chance to
honor those who service this country by protecting the seas around the world.
Order your Navy ring today and have it shipped anywhere in the world in just a couple of weeks.

For more information on Navy rings, click here

U.S. Navy SEALs – AnElite Maritime Force

The Navy SEALs were established in 1962 by President Kennedy.
This elite, small maritime force was created for unconventional warfare.
The members of the SEALs team are trained to operate in all environments,
which is where the name of the unit comes from – Sea, Air, and Land.
From the humid jungles to scorching deserts, SEALs take advantage of the
fact that the over half of the world’s population is within a mile of a river or ocean.

SEALs can infiltrate heavy defended areas when necessary to accomplish their mission,
such as the shallow water of the Persian Gulf Coastline.

Part of the history of the U.S. Navy SEALs can be linked to the very first group of Naval
Constructions Battalions in 1943.

Their missions were to clean the beaches of obstacles so that amphibious landings could occur with less problems.

The Naval Combat Demolition Units, also known as NCDUs came next and they distinguished themselves
in Normandy with their Underwater Demolition Teams or UDTs.

These new units had action in just about every corner of the Pacific during the Second World War When
the SEALs were created, it was for counter-guerilla warfare and other clandestine operations.

The emphasis was put on maritime operations. There were two teams initially, one on the West Coast and
one on the East Coast. During the Vietnam War, these impressive units complied
an unmatched record of success.

Since Vietnam ended, the SEALs have had to adapt to an every-changing world.
Increased operation tasking has led to an increase in the number of SEAL units and their capabilities.
SEAL Deliver Vehicle Teams have been created, which has allowed this important Naval unit
with additional amphibious support.Seal Delivery Teams (SDV) are considered part of
the elite combat unit of Naval Special Warfare.

These teams are highly trained and organized. They are equipped for unconventional warfare,
special operations, and foreign internal defense. Because of the need for increased special
operations throughout the world, Navy SEALS must continuously train for all types of combat situations.

SEAL training is mentally and physically exhausting. Basic Underwater Demotion /SEAL or BUD/S training
is held in Coronado, CA. It’s a six month course that focuses on physical conditioning, diving physics,
small boat handling, basic diving techniques, land warfare, weapons, communications, demolitions, and
reconnaissance.

The course is broken up into six distinct phases: Indoctrination, Basic Conditioning, Diving, Land Warfare,
Basic Parachute Training. At the end, the graduates will receive their Naval Special Warfare Classification.

SEALs have a long proud tradition and a great deal of respect in the Armed Forces.
They fulfill a very special role in today’s military operations.

However, the training and selection process is very difficult. The dropout rate for the training is very high and
there have actually been some classes that no recruit completed.
It’s not just the physical requirements of the course, either.

The sheer mental strength of these “warriors” is unmatched. Those who make it through
and proudly wear the title of a Navy SEAL often order a Navy SEAL ring to show their pride.
You can find these Navy SEAL rings online and create a stunning reminder of their sacrifice and service.

For more information on Navy rings, click here