Seahawks Mark 15th Annual Change of Command, Hosting Coast Guard Personnel from Whidbey Island

Seattle’s annual ceremony with USAA recognizes a rotating military branch each year, bringing base personnel and their families into the game-day spotlight.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The Seattle Seahawks hosted their 15th annual Change of Command event on Monday in partnership with USAA, continuing a longstanding tradition of honoring members of the armed forces connected to the Pacific Northwest.

As part of the program, the Seahawks recognize a different military service each year, rotating through the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines. This year, the recognition passed to the U.S. Coast Guard Northwest District.

The Seahawks’ event highlighted personnel associated with Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, connecting the ceremony to the base community that supports Coast Guard operations in the region. The shift in recognition underscores how the program moves between services to broaden its reach across branches and communities.

The Change of Command concept centers on ceremonial recognition and transition, and the Seahawks’ version is designed to bring service members into the spotlight in a stadium setting. By hosting the event, the team and USAA provide a platform for families and base personnel to be acknowledged during the NFL offseason.

For fans, the attraction is more than pageantry. The Seahawks’ military recognition program is also a public-facing statement about the team’s relationship with local institutions, particularly organizations tied to national service.

The Seahawks’ Monday ceremony reflects the NFL’s wider tradition of military appreciation activities, but it also stands out for its annual rotation by branch. That structure provides a steady rhythm for how different groups are featured, rather than a single branch receiving repeated emphasis.

Looking ahead, the key to the program is what comes next each year. With the Seahawks having rotated through multiple services across its 15-year run, the next Change of Command event will further shape which branch and base communities are highlighted in the lead-up to the regular season.

Why It Matters

The Seahawks’ annual Change of Command event reinforces the team’s community role beyond football by spotlighting local service members and base relationships.
Rotating through multiple branches means different military communities gain recognition over time, which can strengthen long-term engagement with fans and local institutions.
For the Seahawks, these ceremonies help maintain a visible offseason connection with the public while building a broader identity that extends past game days.
The Coast Guard and Whidbey Island focus this year shows how the program ties national service to Pacific Northwest geography and communities.

Sources

Key Facts

The Seattle Seahawks hosted their 15th annual Change of Command event with USAA on Monday.
The program recognizes a different military service each year, rotating through the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines.
On Monday, the recognition was passed to the U.S. Coast Guard Northwest District.
The event featured the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island community as part of the Coast Guard recognition.
The Seahawks’ event is structured as an annual ceremony designed to spotlight military members and their families in a stadium setting.