• Home
  • Military Discounts
    • Military & Veteran Discount List
    • Local Military and Veterans Discounts
    • Apple Military Discount
    • Veteran & Military Cell Phone Discounts
    • Gym and Health Club Discounts
  • Benefits
    • 10 Veterans Benefits You May Not Know About
    • Top Military Spouse Benefits
    • Medal of Honor: Benefits, History and Facts
    • Purple Heart Benefits
    • Veterans Health A to Z
  • Housing & Home Ownership
    • VA Loan Calculator
    • VA Loan Limits by County
    • VA Home Loan Guide
    • 5 Benefits of a VA Loan
    • 2022 BAH Rates
    • BAH Calculator
  • Money & Finance
    • 2022 Military Pay Charts
    • 2022 Defense Budget
    • 2022 Military Pay
    • 2022 Military Pay Charts
    • COLA Watch 2022-2023
    • Military Pay Calculator
    • Military Pay Dates
    • VA Disability Rates
  • Jobs
    • Veteran Friendly Employers
    • Military Spouse Employment Preference
    • Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS)
    • Security Clearance Jobs After the Military
  • Education
    • Veteran Friendly Colleges
    • Online Colleges with Military Discounts
    • Veteran Friendly Colleges Guide
    • Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts (MyCAA)
    • Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) for the GI Bill
    • Forever GI Bill
  • Resources
    • How to Get a Veterans ID Card
    • Veterans ID on Driver’s License or ID Card by State
    • Military ID Cards
    • Military Calendar
    • State Veteran’s Benefits
Home » U.S. Navy Birthday

U.S. Navy Birthday

Some might be surprised to learn that the official birthday of the United States Navy is Oct. 13, 1775. Back then, it was known as the Continental Navy and consisted of a small fleet of ships patrolling to intercept ships sent to resupply British Army troops at or near the colonies.

US Navy BirthdayThe U.S. Navy will next celebrate its birthday on Thursday, Oct. 13th, 2022.

The creation of this fleet was not without controversy. In fact, it was hotly debated for 11 days in the Continental Congress. According to the official website of the U.S. Navy, some in that debate were convinced that having a standing navy was “the maddest idea in the world.”

In the end, the debates were won by “navalists” who were in favor of adding a naval fleet as another branch of defense in addition to the already-created Continental Army which was authorized in June of 1775.

The Navy Birthday: Not To Be Confused With Navy Day

The U.S. Navy birthday should not be confused with Navy Day, which was created in 1922 to recognize the service of all Navy members. Believe it or not, Navy Day pre-dates official recognition of the Navy Birthday. Navy Day is observed on Oct. 27. That date was chosen, so the story goes, in honor of President Teddy Roosevelt whose birthday is also on the 27th.


How the U.S. Navy Birthday is Celebrated

The Navy Birthday is celebrated every year in many different ways throughout the U.S. and the world including the U.S. Navy Birthday Ball. Core elements of the Navy Birthday include:

  • Bell Ringing
  • Cake Cutting
  • Reading of the CNO Birthday Message
  • Reading of the SECNAV Birthday Message
  • Singing of Anchors Aweigh

Other ways to recognize the Navy Birthday include:

  • Fitness Events
  • Luncheons
  • Navy Band Performances
  • Navy Birthday Balls
  • Navy Color Guard
  • Navy Heritage Celebrations
  • Parades
  • Speeches
  • Social Media Engagement
  • Tours of Navy Installations

Making It Official: Who Established The U.S Navy Birthday As A Service Holiday?

It wasn’t until 1972 when Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt declared an official recognition of the holiday, intended to honor all who served in a Navy uniform, past and present.

While considered an “internal” celebration recognized by the Department of Defense rather than a national holiday, the U.S. Navy birthday is an important acknowledgment of the service and accomplishments of the second-oldest fighting force under the command of the President of the United States.

The Navy And Privateers

The earliest days of the U.S. Navy (When it was still known as the Continental Navy) had the fleet working with privately-held vessels to interdict the British fleet. Attitudes and military capabilities were far different in that era with regard to working with “privateers” in the context of combat or exercising the will of the United States against an enemy-something generally not done in the era of the modern United States Navy.

The End Of The Continental Navy

The Continental Navy was disbanded two years after the American Revolution, and a fleet of ships wouldn’t be deemed necessary again until 1794 when the U.S. Government recognized the need to protect American interests against piracy and rival powers in the western hemisphere.

The reason this milestone is significant is that in spite of the timeline of the original Continental Navy and the “reboot” of an American sea power, the date the Continental Navy came into existence is the officially recognized “birth of the U.S. Navy.”


About The AuthorJoe Wallace is a 13-year veteran of the United States Air Force and a former reporter for Air Force Television News


Related Articles
Navy Day U.S. Navy Ranks & Insignia
Navy SEAL Program Navy Reserve Birthday
Navy Cross Navy Tuition Assistance Program

Military + Veteran Discounts

Want 30+ Mil/Vet discounts to use today? Enter your email for updates and we'll send it!
Name(Required)

VA Home Loans

Popular Articles

2022 VA Disability Rates

2022 Military Pay

Military Pay Calculator

VA Loan Calculator

2022 BAH Rates

Search Veteran.com

Military Benefits Logo

Company

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Add a Discount
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosure
  • Unsubscribe

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Military Discounts
  • Benefits
  • Housing & Ownership
  • Money & Finance
  • Employment
  • Education
  • Resources

Connect With Us

  • facebook
  • instagram
  • pinterest
  • twitter
  • youtube
Copyright © 2022 Three Creeks Media, LLC

Veteran.com is a property of Three Creeks Media. Neither Veteran.com nor Three Creeks Media are associated with or endorsed by the U.S. Departments of Defense or Veterans Affairs. The content on Veteran.com is produced by Three Creeks Media, its partners, affiliates and contractors, any opinions or statements on Veteran.com should not be attributed to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs , the Dept. of Defense or any governmental entity. If you have questions about Veteran programs offered through or by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, please visit their website at va.gov. The content offered on Veteran.com is for general informational purposes only and may not be relevant to any consumer’s specific situation, this content should not be construed as legal or financial advice. If you have questions of a specific nature consider consulting a financial professional, accountant or attorney to discuss. References to third-party products, rates and offers may change without notice.

Advertising Notice: Veteran.com and Three Creeks Media, its parent and affiliate companies, may receive compensation through advertising placements on Veteran.com; For any rankings or lists on this site, Veteran.com may receive compensation from the companies being ranked and this compensation may affect how, where and in what order products and companies appear in the rankings and lists. If a ranking or list has a company noted to be a “partner” the indicated company is a corporate affiliate of Veteran.com. No tables, rankings or lists are fully comprehensive and do not include all companies or available products.

Editorial Disclosure: Editorial content on Veteran.com may include opinions. Any opinions are those of the author alone, and not those of an advertiser to the site nor of Veteran.com.