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The U.S. Navy hosted its “Strike Group” mixed‑reality experience at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30.
The mobile experience is designed to introduce high school students to Navy careers related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, while also providing information about ROTC scholarships of up to $180,000, according to a press release.
The Strike Group uses mixed‑reality technology to place students in simulated Navy environments that emphasize teamwork, decision‑making and problem‑solving. The experience highlights how different technical roles contribute to Navy operations across air, sea and undersea missions.
“From the depths of the sea to the heights of the stars, America’s Navy is the most highly skilled, technologically advanced military force in the world,” Rear Adm. James P. Waters said. “A STEM career in the Navy provides a life‑changing experience filled with adventure, teamwork, and support, and the ‘Strike Group’ brings all these aspects to life in the most realistic ways possible.”
Rear Adm. Waters is the commander of Navy Recruiting Command.
The Strike Group includes three interactive challenges designed to expose students to different Navy career paths.
All Hands
Participants take part in a five‑person mixed‑reality exercise set on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Wearing Meta Quest 3 headsets, students are placed aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford and work together to launch an F‑35C Lightning II aircraft.
Each participant is assigned a specific role, including fueling operations, helicopter support and aircraft piloting, allowing students to experience how coordination and timing affect carrier‑based missions.
Train
This experience focuses on physical and mental endurance. Guided by a Navy SEAL trainer, participants complete a series of challenges intended to simulate aspects of the demanding training required for special operations service.
Seek
The submarine‑focused experience places participants in a simulated Ice Exercise, or ICEX, near the North Pole. Students work as a team during an Arctic Ocean mission, applying skills related to nuclear propulsion, sonar and navigation while attempting to break through ice beneath the polar ice cap.
