New York City. (May 31, 2025): In this photo by Lance Corporal Christopher Prelle, members of the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon execute their "bursting bomb" sequence during Fleet Week in Times Square. The first Fleet Week in New York was held in 1984, timed with the Memorial Day weekend, and has been a tradition ever since. During the annual celebration, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard ships dock in New York harbor to allow the public to tour vessels and meet service members.
The famous Silent Drill Platoon is a highly disciplined drill unit that exemplifies the pride and professionalism of the Marine Corps. The platoon is a 24-man rifle squad that performs military drill movements without any verbal cadence or commands. Each member is individually selected from the Schools of Infantry located in Camp Pendleton, California and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Once selected, Marines are assigned to Marine Barracks Washington to serve a two-year ceremonial tour.
This year’s theme for Fleet Week was "Honoring the Past, Defending the Future: 250 Years of Sea Service Excellence” celebrating the rich history of the sea services. The hub for Fleet Week activities is the Intrepid Museum, a floating memorial to the valiant Sailors and Marines who served during World War II. The USS Intrepid helped sink both of Japan's super-battleships, Yamato and Musashi, winning five battle stars during the conflict. Later converted to an aircraft carrier, the Intrepid firmly established the role of aviation within naval operations, replacing the battleship as the Navy's primary strike weapon.
The celebration began with a Parade of Ships featuring two U.S. Navy ships, two Coast Guard cutters, five U.S. Navy Academy Yard Patrol boats, and a Canadian ship sailing from Battery Park to the George Washington Bridge. Once docked, the public was treated to ship tours where they got a chance to meet America’s Sailors and Marines and see how they live. Other events included lectures, competitions, musical performances by sailors and marines, and search and rescue demos by the Coast Guard.