01/27 – For all of the fans who’ve followed the New York Jets Flight Crew since its creation in 2007, it should come as no surprise that the Green & White are once again expanding the size of their cheerleading squad. “We want to be the biggest presence we can be in the new stadium,” said Denise Garvey, who has been the Crew’s director since the team was developed in 2007. “Everything we are doing that surrounds the new stadium is big and so the Flight Crew then follows suit.” After increasing the Crew to 30 members in 2009, Garvey may keep as many as 40 in 2010. While some veterans will surely return, no one is guaranteed a spot and the Jets have just started the process of accepting audition applications. “There’ll be more spots up for grabs. Sometimes new applicants or the returning applicants think veterans have it in the bag and their auditioning is just procedure,” said Garvey, a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. “But that’s really not the case. Not only are there new spots that no one has, those returning veterans have to re-audition and they have to earn their spots.” When the season opens up in the fall, Garvey says “The Flight Crew is going to be everywhere” at the Jets' new Meadowlands home.  You’ll see increased exposure with more lovely ladies on the sidelines and during pregame and halftime performances, as well as spectacular shots on the Jets’ four state-of-the-art video boards. “These young women have to be able to entertain. Some cheerleaders on a team have more dance experience than others and some have more football knowledge than others, but everybody individually is an entertainer,” Garvey said. “In addition to that, I’m looking for young women who are reliable, responsible and professional. We have Crew members constantly out on charity events, corporate events and Jets events. For me, that takes it to a whole other level." After collecting the applications, Garvey will host six prep classes through March and into April. Then the official tryouts will commence, with preliminaries on May 1 followed by the semifinals on May 2 and interviews the week of May 3. The Flight Crew finals will be held on May 8 and then some lucky ladies will be chosen to appear in the Crew’s second swimsuit calendar. “This year we want to take it on the road and go on location,” said the Crew’s director. “We have absolutely beautiful girls on our team, so why not complement that with beautiful locations?” The Jets chose Jones Beach, N.Y., and Belmar, N.J., last spring for shoot locations, but there are strong indications that they’re planning on leaving the mainland for this highly anticipated second calendar. “I’d say you don’t have to have a passport, but you might want to get one quickly,” Garvey said with a wink. Meredith, a Crew member since its inception, will represent the Jets cheerleaders this week at the Pro Bowl in Miami. NFL Films is planning to feature her on a Pro Bowl documentary they’re working on as the Flight Crew continues to rise in national prominence. Throughout the year, Crew members made appearances on CBS, ESPN, TLC, WPIX and the Dr. Oz show, were featured in newspapers and magazines, and have often been seen in Maxim’s various media properties. “You are an ambassador for the organization,” said Garvey. “This year we’ve done so many different TV appearances, it’s really awesome. We need people who are personable, outgoing and well-spoken.” So in simple terms, the Jets are looking for a few good women. In just a short period of time, they’ve become the biggest cheerleading show in town.    “The exposure, the experience and the opportunities they get by being part of the NFL and being part of the Jets are absolutely invaluable. They’re not going to get it anywhere else, so why wouldn’t they come out?" Garvey said. "We are New York’s team — there is no other New York team that has professional football cheerleaders. We have grown so much and the opportunities are priceless." Get audition details for the 2010 NY Jets Flight Crew Squad Download the 2010 Flight Crew Audition Application

Growing Flight Crew Accepting '10 Applications

01/12 – Hey, Jets fans, it's Ashley from the Flight Crew. I am so honored to be a rookie member of the Flight Crew this year. Throughout my career as a dancer I was exposed to many different aspects of dance, which led up to the start of my first season as a Jets Flight Crew Cheerleader. Coming from a family full of dancers, my life as a dancer began at the early age of 3. Even before that, you could count my sisters' recitals I slept through in my dad's arms. Dance was something that started as a hobby that I enjoyed but quickly become a passion I couldn't live without. Over the course of 18 years, I continued to take classes at my studio in Connecticut, at the college I attended, and also in NYC. Staying consistent with taking classes was very important for improving and perfecting my technique as a dancer. It also helped to take classes with a variety of teachers and choreographers in order to learn new styles and become a versatile dancer. Fortunately, I was involved with a dance school that did numerous shows across the tristate area, including fairs, festivals, showcases, recitals, etc. Doing as many shows as I did helped with my performance quality. By this, I mean developing a personality and unique style with my dance. After perfecting technique and gaining performance experience, I started competing across the U.S. Being a competitive dancer allowed me to become exposed to dancers, choreographers and judges from all over. Through this I gained insight into what else is out there and it kept me striving to become a better all-around dancer. Not only did I gain fulfillment with dance, it also gave me a chance to give back as well. Throughout the years I danced for charities, raising money for less fortunate families during the holidays as well as supporting people living with HIV/AIDS. As you can see, I have gained something new with each aspect of my life with dance to help me get to where I am today as a proud Jets Flight Crew Cheerleader! Thank you to all of my family and friends who have supported me along the way and to all of you Jets fans who make it all worthwhile. J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS! 1, 2, FLIGHT CREW! Ashley

ASHLEY: How Dance Became a Passion

01/26 – On Sunday, for the first time since 1975, the NFL's Pro Bowl will be held in Miami, thousands of miles away from the event's long-time site in Hawaii. Besides the 80-plus players, selected through voting by fellow players, coaches and fans, who are in South Florida to represent their organizations, cheerleaders selected by each team with cheerleading squads will also be participating in the game. Meredith was chosen by her Flight Crew teammates and director Denise Garvey to represent the Jets at the league's annual all-star event. “Every time that I think about it, I try not to talk about it because I get so excited,” she said. “I’m very, very excited about the opportunity.” Meredith, who arrived in the Miami area on Monday, was announced during the halftime ceremony of the Jets' final regular-season game at the Meadowlands, and although she knew before the match that she had been chosen, she was still overjoyed. “Denise announced it at practice and took pictures,” said Meredith. “But it was still that much more exciting at the game. Even though it was a night game, my family was there to see me because they knew I was going to be announced.” Some people are disappointed that the Pro Bowl is in the Sunshine State rather than the Aloha State this year. But the fact that it will still be played on the East Coast presents a unique occasion for Meredith and her teammates. “Because it’s in Miami, the girls are coming to see me,” she said. “Five of the original Flag Girls will be going down to support me. My family is actually coming, too. They’re going to come for a few days and then stay for the game.” Not every Crew member can be selected to don the group's warm-weather uniform in late January and go on such a big stage, and Meredith is certainly deserving. Her teammates described her as a caring, loving leader and a role model. One of the Flight Crew's veteran performers has her own description of herself. “Every year at the beginning of the season, Denise gives you this little sheet to fill out with one word that best describes you. I always say ‘dedicated,’ ” said Meredith. “I’ve been on this team since the Flag Girls in 2006 before it was the Flight Crew. I’ve been here for years. I’m definitely dedicated and this means so much to me.” Flight Crew teammate Ryann, who represented the Jets at the Pro Bowl last season, gave Meredith some pointers on what to expect. Ryann made many friends, and Meredith has already been networking with other teams’ cheerleaders. “All the girls that went down there last year made long-term friends,” she said. “I definitely feel like I’m going to meet some people that I’ll be friends with forever. I’m going with 25 other girls that have the exact same thing in common with me.” The Flight Crew has been able to ride the wave of the Jets' on-field success this season by making appearances at any number of off-field events. One opportunity to team up with a Green & White legend stands out for Meredith. “The girls were able to go with Wayne Chrebet to light the Empire State Building green,” she said. “That’s amazing, an opportunity to do something like that. Because the Jets are winning, we’re having these huge opportunities come to us, too. “We work very, very hard during the season with practice and our full-time jobs and then we stand out there and it’s either hot or it’s brutally freezing. When they’re winning it makes it that much easier, that much more exciting.” Randy Lange, newyorkjets.com editor-in-chief, will be in South Florida beginning Wednesday and will interview Meredith for the Website later this week.

Meredith's in Miami, Prepping for the Pro Bowl