October 13, 2021, marks the Navy’s 246th birthday. This year, the theme of the Navy’s birthday celebration is “Resilient and Ready,” which organizers claim speaks to the history of the Navy and being “able to shake off disaster,” which includes the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The Navy’s birthday received its first official recognition in 1972 by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalk. Since then, each Chief of Naval Operations has encouraged a Navy-wide celebration.
However, when the Navy first formed on October 13, 1775, it was known as the Continental Navy. This fleet was created by the Continental Congress and consisted of two vessels with ten carriage guns, a proportional number of swivel guns, and crews of 80 men.
The Continental Navy was disbanded two years after the American Revolution. The Navy then relaunched in 1794.
The Navy is considered “America’s primary forward-deployed force” and follows four-core “attributes,” including initiative, accountability, integrity, and toughness.
In the upcoming year, the U.S. Navy estimates there will be a total of 346,200 service members enlisted in the force. The operational force includes eight Admirals and 37 Vice Admirals.
Current Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday and his wife delivered their birthday message to the Navy on Wednesday morning. Watch the full address in the player below:
The Monday News 