About this Unit
Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Denver was established to manage and coordinate U.S. Navy recruiting efforts across a large portion of the central United States, with its headquarters located in Denver, Colorado. The unit oversaw recruitment operations in several states, including Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nebraska, and parts of Kansas and South Dakota. NRD Denver played a vital role in enlisting and processing thousands of new sailors, helping to maintain the Navy’s operational strength during both peacetime and periods of conflict. In 2020, as part of a nationwide restructuring by Navy Recruiting Command, NRD Denver was disestablished and its responsibilities were merged into Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Rocky Mountain.
Historical Facts
• Establishment: Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Denver was officially established in 1972 to help the U.S. Navy meet its recruitment goals in the Rocky Mountain region.
• Geographic Coverage: NRD Denver’s area of responsibility included Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, parts of Nebraska, Idaho, and even parts of Nevada and South Dakota at various times.
• Mile High Recruiting: Denver’s unique mile-high elevation led to creative local recruiting campaigns, including “Join the Navy—See the World, Start a Mile High!”
• Community Engagement: NRD Denver often participated in local events like the Denver Veterans Day Parade, Air Shows, and school STEM programs to raise awareness about Navy opportunities.
• Mountain Navy: Despite being far from any ocean, NRD Denver consistently ranked among the top Navy recruiting districts for several years in the 1990s and 2000s.
• Notable Alumni: Several Navy officers and enlisted personnel who began their careers through NRD Denver later achieved high ranks, including flag officers and submarine commanders.
• “Navy Week” Initiatives: NRD Denver played a major role in organizing annual Navy Weeks in Denver and Salt Lake City, bringing Navy ships, Blue Angels, and Navy bands to landlocked audiences.
• Post-9/11 Surge: After September 11, 2001, NRD Denver experienced a significant surge in enlistments, reflecting the patriotism of the Rocky Mountain region.
• Technology Pioneers: NRD Denver was among the first districts to use virtual reality and computer-based career presentations in schools, ahead of many coastal recruiting offices.
• Deactivation and Legacy: In 2020, the Navy reorganized its recruiting commands, leading to the deactivation of NRD Denver, but its legacy continues through the sailors it helped enlist and the recruiting innovations it pioneered.
