Over 100 sailors and staff, including Capt. Edward Gettins, TSCHR Commanding Officer, recognized the 241st birthday of the United States Navy in a cake-cutting ceremony Oct. 13th held at the TSCHR Norfolk site.

Capt. Gettins kicked off the ceremony which was coordinated and conducted by Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Leveque, TSCHR Executive Officer and Lt. Rebecca Samuels, TSCHR Dam Neck Officer in Charge. The presentation included a video featuring birthday messages from the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Throughout the observance, both Leveque and Samuels highlighted the U.S. Navy's tremendous maritime strength, pride, heritage and theme: Tough, Bold, & Ready.

"The U.S. Navy has been the cornerstone of America's security and prosperity for almost two and half centuries, and today we celebrate our Sailors unique ability to learn, adapt and ultimately overcome and continue to make the United States Navy the most formidable sea power & benchmark that others measure themselves against," said Leveque.

"Ready...we must always be ready especially on shore duty we often loose site of the bigger picture when it comes to the training pipeline, the inspections, sometimes we forget what it's all for. We are Mission first, Sailors, then Ourselves and we must always be ready to take on any threat at any time," said Samuels.

"Three core values have defined our Navy since its inception, said Leveque. They will continue to supersede all technological advances in accordance as we move forward into an uncertain future. Our sailors--our center of gravity have always been and will certainly continue to be Tough, Bold and Ready."

Traditionally, the Navy birthday cake is cut by the oldest and the youngest staff members, so Gettins asked Oscar Jose, TSCHR Student Management Director and SN Jennifer Valdez, TSCHR Supply, to assist him in the cake cutting.

The celebration ended with an opportunity for staff members to ask any questions they had for Capt. Gettins.

TSCHR provides student management, quota control, and professional development for nearly 80,000 Sailors, Marines, Soldiers and Airmen from the U.S. Armed Forces, and 23 allied nations each year.

For more news from Training Support Center Hampton Roads, visit www.navy.mil/.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Training Support Center Hampton Roads, visit www.navy.mil/.