HII Hosts Merging Vets & Players Event at Newport News Shipbuilding

Rhea-AI Summary

HII hosts Merging Vets and Players event at Newport News Shipbuilding, emphasizing holistic wellbeing and leadership. The event brought together active-duty sailors, veterans, and former professional athletes to focus on physical fitness, learning, and community building. The collaboration between NNS, MVP, and The Hampton Roads Workforce Council highlights the commitment to supporting service members in transition.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Feb. 28, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) today hosted the nonprofit Merging Vets and Players (MVP) for an event at its Newport News Shipbuilding division.

Merging Vets and Players, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, was formed to address the challenges that service members and former professional athletes face in transition to new mission, meaning and purpose once the uniform comes off.

Wednesday’s event at The Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School brought together 150 active-duty sailors currently assigned to commands at NNS for a day of physical fitness and learning, with a focus on holistic wellbeing and leadership. NNS apprentices helped facilitate the workout portion and participants heard from Rear Adm. Brett Mietus, director, Navy Culture and Force Resilience Office, N17, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations; and Nate Boyer, former Army Green Beret and Seattle Seahawks player, who is the co-founder of MVP.

The event was a collaboration between NNS, MVP and The Hampton Roads Workforce Council, and it included a lunch sponsored by Walmart.

Photos accompanying this release are available at: https://hii.com/news/hii-hosts-merging-vets-players-event-at-newport-news-shipbuilding.

“We were honored to host this important Merging Vets and Players event at NNS,” said Dr. Latitia McCane, director of education at The Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School. “With veterans making up more than 17% of the HII workforce, we understand the challenges our service members face when transitioning from active duty, and we remain committed to ensuring the wellbeing of everyone involved in our critical national security mission.”

“We're deeply honored to continue our commitment to those who selflessly contribute to our nation's greatness, equipping them with essential resources for success before, during, and after their service,” Boyer said. “This event underscores the power of unity in building a more robust, resilient community."

“It was a privilege to attend the Merging Vets and Players event at Newport News Shipbuilding and share the stage with an expert like Nate Boyer,” Mietus said. “Leaders at all levels must establish and sustain a dialogue with their People that includes holistic well-being, the strength and resilience of their Mind, Body, and Spirit.”

“Beyond existing programs, I see the Navy's strength and future in nurturing well-rounded individuals who prioritize both mental and physical health,” said Shawn Avery, Hampton Roads Workforce Council CEO & president. “Events like this, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving, equip sailors and veterans with valuable tools to navigate personal challenges and build resilience.”

To learn more about Merging Vets and Players, please visit https://vetsandplayers.org/.

About HII

HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII’s mission is to deliver the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.

As the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:

• HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/
• HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII
• HII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII
• HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII

Contact:
Todd Corillo
Todd.T.Corillo@hii-co.com
(757) 688-3220

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/cb178958-8634-468b-93f4-2de8203d2935

FAQ

What organization was hosted by HII at the Newport News Shipbuilding division?

Merging Vets and Players (MVP)

What is the mission of Merging Vets and Players?

To address challenges that service members and former professional athletes face in transition to new mission, meaning, and purpose once the uniform comes off.

Who are some of the key figures involved in the event?

Rear Adm. Brett Mietus, Nate Boyer, Dr. Latitia McCane, and Shawn Avery

What was the focus of the event at The Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School?

Holistic wellbeing, leadership, physical fitness, and learning

How many active-duty sailors were brought together for the event?

150

What was the role of NNS apprentices at the event?

Facilitated the workout portion

Who sponsored the lunch at the event?

Walmart

What is the percentage of veterans in the HII workforce?

More than 17%

What was the key message conveyed by the event attendees?

Emphasizing holistic well-being, mental and physical health, and building resilience