U.S. Navy and
SWAC engineer innovative Partnership
April 12, 2004
Millington, Tenn. — The United States Navy has signed
on with the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) to partner
with 17 SWAC sports championships and multiple campus events
in 2004.
The partnership will provide the U.S. Navy the opportunity to introduce itself
to SWAC campuses in an entertaining, interactive way, while SWAC students learn
of a range of career options in the U.S Navy that can help them attain their
long-term entrepreneurial goals.
“The SWAC and its member institutions have long been recognized as a
bastion of technology, producing some of the top engineering and medical personnel
in the country,” said Rear Admiral Jeffrey Fowler, Commander, Navy Recruiting
Command. “This partnership will provide the Navy with the unique opportunity
to approach highly-qualified students in very demanding fields of expertise
at some of the nation’s best HBCUs.”
Recognizing this, the U.S. Navy seized the opportunity to employ its current
African-American communication initiative, ‘Person In Me,’ on SWAC
campuses. ‘Person In Me,’ which generates student awareness of
how many successful African-Americans have utilized their Navy experience to
reach their long-term career and entrepreneurial goals, was created by Southfield,
MI based multicultural agency GlobalHue as part of the Navy’s Accelerate
Your Life™ initiative.
“In the U.S. Navy, SWAC students will find unmatched high-tech training
and first-hand experiences that will give them an advantage in any career field
and environment,” Rear Admiral Fowler said. “The Navy provides
outstanding management and leadership opportunities to all Sailors, regardless
of rank.”
In addition to supporting the conference championships, the Navy-SWAC partnership
will include ways to involve the student bodies on each campus, such as the
Navy SEALs Challenge and the U.S. Navy Step Forward Award. The Navy SEALs Challenge
is a physical fitness challenge presented to students on each campus as a way
to generate camaraderie and solidarity, both important in Navy life. Students
will cheer each other on as they attempt to complete 50 sit-ups, 40 push-ups
and 10 chin-ups within two minutes.
In the fall, the U.S. Navy Step Forward Award will be presented to Greek fraternities
and sororities on SWAC campuses during step show competitions. The Step Forward
Award recognizes the winning teams for teamwork, dignity and respect associated
with achieving a common goal.
Each of the member schools’ athletic directors will also be awarding
one football and one basketball player the U.S. Navy Accelerate Your Life (AYL)
Award for embodying the ideals of the Navy. The initiative also consists of
on-campus career days, job fairs, seminars and workshops intended to educate
SWAC students on how to reach their entrepreneurial goals with skills attained
in the U.S. Navy
“This is a mutually beneficial relationship of growth both for the SWAC
and for the Navy,” SWAC Commissioner Robert Vowels said. “This
program provides a great way to extend a key message to our desired audience
and we look forward to fostering a great relationship with the fans, alumni
and the student bodies of each SWAC school.”
For more information about careers in the U.S. Navy, visit navy.com.
