Army’s uniform honors the 101st Airborne Division, and Navy’s pays tribute to Strike Fighter Squadron 103 (VFA-103).
GREATER LANDOVER, Md. — The greatest college football game of the season is back again.
It’s the only one with its own dedicated week every single season. Army-Navy. Wherever your allegiances lie in the rivalry, it’s America’s game.
The Navy Midshipmen and Army Black Knights first duked it out on the gridiron in 1890 – Navy won 24-0. Since then, they’ve played annually (except for in 1894–1898, 1909, 1917–1918 and 1928–1929) 124 total times. Navy leads the all-time series 62-55-7. Army, however, has dominated as of late, winning six of the last eight.
Part of the many traditions surrounding this game is how each academy honors a specific unit with its uniform.
In 2024, Army’s uniform salutes the Screaming Eagles, while Navy’s is a tribute to the Jolly Rogers.
Army-Navy: Who are the 101st Airborne Division, a.k.a the Screaming Eagles?
The 101st Division was activated in 1942 during World War II and its renowned for its role in Operation Overlord (the D-Day landings and airborne landings in Normandy, France), Operation Market Garden, the liberation of the Netherlands, and its action during the Battle of the Bulge around the city of Bastogne, Belgium.
The 101st, known as the Screaming Eagles, also fought in several major battles during the Vietnam War, including the Battle of Hamburger Hill in 1969.
The 101st’s headquarters is at Fort Campbell, Ken., and many of its members are graduates of the U.S. Army Air Assault School.
Navy-Army: Who are Strike Fighter Squadron 103 (VFA-103), a.k.a the Jolly Rogers?
Strike Fighter Squadron 103 (VFA-103), nicknamed the Jolly Rogers, were activated in 1952.
The Jolly Rogers have fought in:
- 1958 Lebanon crisis
- Vietnam War
- Achille Lauro hijacking
- Action in the Gulf of Sidra (1986)
- Operation El Dorado Canyon
- Operation Desert Shield
- Operation Desert Storm
- Operation Southern Watch
- Operation Enduring Freedom
- Operation Iraqi Freedom
- Operation Inherent Resolve
VFA-103 have manned numerous different air craft over the years, including: FG-1D Corsair (1952), F9F-6/8B Cougar (1952–1957), F-8A/C/E Crusader (1957–1965), F-4B/J/S Phantom II(1964–1983), F-14A/B Tomcat(1983–2004) and F/A-18F Super Hornet (2004 – present).
The squadron’s radio callsign is “Victory” and it is assigned to Carrier Air Wing Seven.