Jets Flight Crew

History

Jets Flag Crew

The Jets Flag Crew was unveiled on October 15, 2006, during the Jets' home game against division rival Miami Dolphins. The team stressed that the crew, composed of females who relieved their male counterparts, were "flag carriers" and not cheerleaders.

Jets Flight Crew

The Jets officially announced the creation of the Jets Flight Crew on August 7, 2007. The Flag Crew had been well received the previous year, and the team felt it best to take the next step and organize an official squad that could actively participate during home games. The intention of the crew was to "enhance the overall fan experience by bringing additional energy and enthusiasm to each home game."

Denise Garvey, a former Knicks City Dancer and Cowboys cheerleader, was brought in to coordinate the squad. Given her expertise and experience in performance and dance, Garvey, with the support of the organization, held closed auditions, inviting 46 young women to try out for the squad. Of the 46, ten were chosen to become the first members of the Jets Flight Crew. The organization continued to stress that the squad was not cheerleaders but rather a unique flag carrier/dance team.

Following their inaugural season, the Flight Crew held open auditions for the first time in 2008, increasing the number of members from 10 to 22, as the squad had been well received among the fans in 2007. The Jets announced their partnership with Marc Eckō, founder of Eckō Unltd., who agreed to design the Flight Crew's 2008 uniforms.

The Flight Crew was expanded from 22 to 30 members in 2009. In 2010, the Jets, again, increased the size of the crew to as many as 40 members with Garvey noting that "We want to be the biggest presence we can be in the new stadium."

Calendar

In 2009, a Flight Crew swimsuit calendar was introduced, a testament to the squad's growing importance within the organization and in the community. The 2010 calendar featured members of the 2009 squad on beaches in New York and New Jersey while Linda W. served as the cover model. The following year, shooting for the 2011 calendar took place in Aruba.

Junior Program

Jets Junior Flight Crew

The organization introduced the Jets Junior Flight Crew in 2010, a junior program that offers children the opportunity to train with the Flight Crew while improving their "talent and abilities in a non-competitive environment."

References

References

1. "Instagram".
2. Shorenstein, Marissa. (October 22, 2006). "Wave Hello to New Flag Carriers". New York Jets.
3. (October 25, 2006). "No Penalty for These Flags". Newsday.
4. Shorenstein, Marissa. (August 7, 2007). "Jets Flight Crew Preparing for Takeoff". New York Jets.
5. (August 8, 2007). "Jets' Flight Crew Set for Takeoff". New York Daily News.
6. Allen, Eric. (September 4, 2007). "View the Jets Flight Crew Before the Big Debut". New York Jets.
7. Jets PR Department. (March 20, 2008). "Garvey Paves the Way for Crew's Expansion". New York Jets.
8. Jets PR Department. (March 5, 2008). "Expanded Flight Crew Announces Open Auditions". New York Jets.
9. (May 9, 2008). "Marc Ecko to Design Flight Crew's '08 Uniforms". New York Jets.
10. Carlson, Tim. (June 9, 2009). "An Official Cheer for the 2009 Flight Crew". New York Jets.
11. Allen, Eric. (January 27, 2010). "Growing Flight Crew Accepting '10". New York Jets.
12. Lange, Randy. (September 10, 2010). "Calendar Event Is a Sign of the Crew's Growth". New York Jets.
13. (May 13, 2009). "Crew's Next Timely Project: Swimsuit Calendar". New York Jets.
14. (April 27, 2010). "Auditions, Aruba Calendar Shoot Ahead". New York Jets.
15. (January 27, 2010). "NY Jets Junior Flight Crew Cheerleader General Information". New York Jets.