Community Involvement
The Dallas Council of the Navy League maintains a visible and vital presence in the local community through many different programs and initiatives.
Adopted Active Duty Units/Ships/Squadrons
The Dallas Council, like most all Navy League Councils, seeks to support and encourage the men and women of our maritime forces. We have adopted Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Fifty Nine (VR-59) which is homeported at Naval Air Station Forth Worth Joint Reserve Base. VR-59 maintains and flies a squadron of Navy C-40 aircraft with a worldwide fleet support mission. The squadron consists of over 250 officers and sailors who are part of our Metroplex community while they serve our country all over the world. In August, the Dallas Navy League adopted the MALS-41, a marine aviation logistics support squadron based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth.
Each year, the Dallas Council co-sponsors (along with the Fort Worth Council) an annual Sailor of the Year banquet recognizing top achievement by young sailors and marines stationed in the 70+ commands resident at NAS Fort Worth JRB. In addition to the recognition which becomes a permanent addition to their service record, this prestigious event honors each recipient with an engraved keepsake clock/compass to commemorate their stellar achievement.
In November of 2022, the Dallas Navy League adopted the USS Sentry. The USS Sentry is a minesweeper based in Bahrain. The USS Century consists of 85 crew members. During the holidays we were able to send the crew a care package that had Dallas Mavericks hats, Dallas Cowboys shirts, footballs, candy, playing cards, and holiday cards from elementary students. We will continue to support them in their mission.
Veterans Day Parade
We proudly support the annual Dallas parade, normally on or around November 11, winding through the streets of downtown Big D. The Council pays for the meals and transportation of crew members from our adopted squadron so that they may represent their shipmates. Officers and crew visit various schools to build goodwill and promote Navy and maritime careers to interested students. They also spend time in local children’s hospitals and other facilities on behalf of Navy League. To learn more about the parade, visit http://www.vetsdayindallas.org.
Youth Development
We sponsor three separate battalions of Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) for youths ages 14-17. The Forrestal Squadron (established in 1964) and the Halsey Squadron, as well as the Ranger Training Ship. NSCC is a congressionally chartered program established to provide education and training to young people enhancing their interests in maritime history, customs, and traditions. The program’s objective is to ingrain a sense of personal honor, patriotism, courage, self-reliance, confidence and similar qualities which mold strong character and encourage good citizenship.
In cooperation with several DFW School Districts, the council supports Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) as well as Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) and Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) units in fourteen metroplex high schools.
In cooperation with other military and veteran’s organizations, the Council sponsors and supports other youth scholarship programs with financial assistance. These include annual Youth Leadership Camps across Texas.