Jets Flight Crew facts for kids

The Jets Flight Crew is a group of professional cheerleaders for the New York Jets. The Jets are a team in the National Football League. This group started in 2006 as the Jets Flag Crew. It had six women who carried flags. In 2007, the group grew bigger and was renamed the Jets Flight Crew. They perform dance routines at the Jets' home games. Denise Garvey is the director of the Flight Crew.

The Story of the Flight Crew

How the Flag Crew Started

The Jets Flag Crew first appeared on October 15, 2006. This was during a home game against the Miami Dolphins. The team wanted to make it clear that these women were "flag carriers." They were not called cheerleaders at this time. These women took over from male flag carriers.

Becoming the Jets Flight Crew

Jets Flight Crew members on the amphibious transport USS New York (LPD-21)

Flight Crew members performing in a 2009 game against the Philadelphia Eagles

A Flight Crew member in a 2009 game against the Philadelphia Eagles

The Jets officially announced the Jets Flight Crew on August 7, 2007. The Flag Crew had been very popular the year before. So, the team decided to create an official squad. This new squad could actively participate in home games. The goal was to "enhance the overall fan experience." This meant making each home game more exciting for fans.

Jets Flight Crew members with Director Denise Garvey during a 2008 game against the Miami Dolphins

Denise Garvey was hired to lead the squad. She used to be a Knicks City Dancer and a Cowboys cheerleader. Because of her dance and performance skills, Garvey held special auditions. Forty-six young women were invited to try out. From these, ten were chosen to be the first members of the Jets Flight Crew. The team still emphasized that they were a unique flag carrier and dance team, not just cheerleaders.

After their first year, the Flight Crew held open auditions in 2008. The squad was very popular with fans in 2007. So, the number of members grew from 10 to 22. The Jets also announced a partnership with Marc Eckō. He is the founder of Eckō Unltd.. He agreed to design the Flight Crew's uniforms for 2008.

The Flight Crew grew from 22 to 30 members in 2009. In 2010, the Jets increased the size of the crew again. They wanted as many as 40 members. Garvey said, "We want to be the biggest presence we can be in the new stadium."

Flight Crew Calendar

In 2009, the Flight Crew started making a swimsuit calendar. This showed how important the squad was becoming. The 2010 calendar featured members from the 2009 squad. They were photographed on beaches in New York and New Jersey. Linda W. was the cover model. The next year, the 2011 calendar was shot in Aruba.

Junior Program

Jets Junior Flight Crew

(2010–Present) The Jets started the Junior Flight Crew program in 2010. This program gives children a chance to train with the Flight Crew. It helps them improve their dance skills in a fun, non-competitive way.