Naval History and Heritage Command

Key Message

Supporting Talking Points

The U.S. Navy is always ready to defend our shores, maintain sea control, and protect our national security and economic interests. 

• We are 100% on watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week—and have been for 247 years.
• Since our Nation’s founding, through peace, war, and every challenge in between, the U.S. Navy has stood the watch to protect America’s economic vitality, sustain our Nation’s influence, support our Allies and partners, deter conflict, and when called upon, defended our freedom through combat.
• For generations, a strong Navy has ensured American influence across the world, expanded economic opportunities for the American people, and guaranteed the rules-based order underpinning global security and prosperity.

Our Navy relies on a strong, diverse and healthy force—ready at all times and focused on warfighting and leadership at every level.  

• The U.S. Navy’s enduring advantage is our workforce—both uniformed and civilian—across our active and Reserve components.
• The Navy's focus on its four priorities of readiness, capabilities, capacity, and our Sailors will optimize Navy resources to provide the fleet with the capability to execute the National Defense Strategy.
• Trained, educated, and resilient American Sailors remain our asymmetric advantage and are the true source of the United States Navy’s strength.
  •  We actively pursue diverse Sailors with varied sets of knowledge, skills and experiences to operate, sustain and maintain an edge over those who challenge us.

Maintaining the world’s best Navy is an investment in the security and prosperity of the United States.

• America has always been a maritime nation. The seas are the lifeblood of our economy, our national security, and our way of life.
• Together with the U.S. Marine Corps and Coast Guard, our Fleets deliver integrated all-domain naval power to the Joint Force in competition, crisis, and conflict.
• Our allies and partners recognize U.S. naval forces as their on-scene partner for building combined maritime strength.
• Supporting our Sailors with fully manned, maintained, and sustained platforms is critical for credible deterrence.

A rules-based international order depends upon free and open oceans.

• Our forward posture guarantees our ability to respond to crisis and preserve a stable and secure global maritime order.
• A ready, combat-credible, forward-deployed fleet is the most potent, flexible and versatile instrument of military power.

The history, traditions, and fighting spirit of the U.S. Navy can trace directly back to USS Constitution

• USS Constitution is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855.
• USS Constitution represents the earliest foundations of the joint Navy-Marine Corps Team.
• USS Constitution remains in active commission and is a source of pride for all Sailors, providing a tangible connection to the Navy’s earliest foundations.

Key Performance Indicator

Measurement

1

Navy leadership and units hold no less than 150 events — either virtual or in-person — that use NHHC-provided key messages and tactics to engage Sailors directly with both the birthday and Navy heritage. 

Track commands and units who held events via self-reports in downloadable reporting and lessons learned spreadsheet in Navy Birthday toolkit.

2

Navy commands use messages related to the theme and key messages of the Navy Birthday campaign, reaching no fewer than 5,000,000 people digitally across Navy social platforms.

Monitor and track 1) unique website visitors to pages featuring Navy Birthday-related content; and 2) reach of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn channels across the Navy.

3

On NHHC platforms, achieve an average Facebook engagement rate of 18% and a Twitter engagement rate of 15% for Navy Birthday posts.

Monitor and track engagement with posts during the campaign period.

Fleet Tactics

Meets Objective

Plan of the Day/Week Notes—(Mandatory for Navy Birthday commemoration as operational commitments permit per NAVADMIN 189/12) that can be used throughout the campaign period.

1, 2

Bell-ringing Ceremony—(Mandatory for Navy Birthday commemoration as operational commitments permit per NAVADMIN 189/12). Instills in our Sailors and public the importance and sense of pride in our Navy's history and heritage. Event honors our shipmates who stand and have stood the watch.

1, 2

Cake cutting—(Mandatory for Navy Birthday commemoration as operational commitments permit per NAVADMIN 189/12) Opportunity to reflect on our Navy's history and heritage while celebrating the Navy's 247th birthday.

1, 2, 3

Reading of SECNAV/CNO Birthday Messages—(Mandatory for Navy

Birthday commemoration as operational commitments permit per NAVADMIN 189/12). Provides commands with messages from the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations.

1, 2

Actively share 247th Navy Birthday content throughout the campaign period on web pages and social channels, and events (virtual or in-person), incorporating key messages as relevant with hashtags #OnWatch247 and #USNavy247

1, 2

Conduct ship-wide celebrations using Navy Birthday key messaging and content.

1

Display birthday materials in prominent areas throughout commands/ships, including command newsletters.

1

At quarters throughout the Birthday week, or via the 1MC, share NHHC-created POD notes and other NHHC-generated content with Sailors.

1

Publish and share original or existing blog posts related to the Navy’s victories at sea, our everyday heroes, and diversity in action; amplify blogs on social media channels.

2

Monitor NHHC platforms for Navy Birthday content to share on your command’s owned properties.

2­­

Fleet Commanders and other fleet concentration area leadership lead town halls Navy-wide during Navy Birthday week. The town-hall(s) could be live-streamed so that the discussion could be with a larger audience.

1, 2

Movie night/viewing with a discussion.

1, 2

Fun run—a run that Sailors and civilians can participate in celebrating the Navy's Birthday.

1

Moments of silence—Hold a moment of silence to reflect on those who have served before us.

1

Chiefs Mess/Wardroom Luncheons—Provide the opportunity for the Chiefs Mess and Wardroom to reflect on the Navy’s history and our diversity throughout the past 247 years. A speaker could be invited to address a certain topic, or command leadership could talk about the command's contribution to the Navy.

1, 2

Command Picnic, BBQ or Fun Day—Opportunity to celebrate the Navy's Birthday and warfighting heritage.

1, 2

Navy Birthday Ball—Opportunity for units/commands to attend the annual Birthday Ball, as operationally feasible with current COCOM HP levels.

1, 2

Historians/ museums—Museums hold events or commands invite historians or relevant authors to come speak in person or virtually.

1, 2

Unit/Command History—Discuss the history of the command/unit and how the command/unit has supported Navy’s warfighting efforts for 247 years.

1, 2

Wreath Laying Ceremony—Opportunity to reflect on the Navy’s past and those who have gone before us.

1

Navy commands and units use their official social media accounts to engage with primary audiences on the Navy’s 247th Birthday celebration.

1, 2