After a week of events, community service projects and interaction between Sailors and Reno-area community members, Reno/Carson City Navy week visited the Reno Rodeo, June 22, for one of its last community outreach events in the area.

Reno/Carson City Navy Week, held during the same time as the Reno Rodeo, is designed to give locals an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people and its importance to national security and prosperity.

"The outpouring of support from Reno is fantastic," said Capt. Ryan Heilman, commanding officer of the state's namesake ship USS Nevada (SSBN 733).

Bill Summy, 2018 Reno Rodeo president, was very supportive of having the Navy at the rodeo.

"When we were approached about Navy Week, we were just ecstatic to have a group from the armed forces," said Summy.

Additionally, George Combs, Reno Rodeo general manager, welcomed the Navy's presence at the rodeo.

"The patriotism of rodeo and the rodeo world is outstanding," said Combs. "To be able to tie the rodeo's patriotism with the U.S. Navy makes it very patriotic for our fans."

Known as the "Wildest, richest rodeo in the west," the Reno Rodeo attracts over 140,000 people in its 10-day span.

"Ending Navy Week with a swearing in of future Sailors, in a place that seems to have some of the best support for military and veterans, is the way to end a week like this," said Heilman.

Reno Rodeo audience members got the opportunity to witness Heilman administer the Oath of Enlistment to 15 future Sailors from Navy Recruiting Station Sparks, Nevada.

"It's a great opportunity for the future Sailors to show off what they signed up for and to be recognized by the general public," said Chief Navy Counselor Doug Renwick, recruiting station detachment director. "I don't think there is a better opportunity for that."

In addition to Sailors from USS Nevada and Navy Recruiting Station Sparks, Sailors from USS Constitution, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1, Navy Meteorological and Oceanography Command, and U.S. Navy parachute team, the Leap Frogs, participated in over 90 events throughout the Navy Week in the Reno area.


Reno is one of only 14 cities selected to host a Navy Week this year.


For more information about Navy Weeks, visit http://www.outreach.navy.mil/Navy-Weeks/

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

For more news from Navy Public Affairs Support Element, visit www.navy.mil/.