Chicago Bears host reenlistment ceremony at Halas Hall
The Chicago Bears hosted a reenlistment ceremony for members of the armed forces at Halas Hall on Oct. 29, 2026, as part of the team’s “Salute to Service” initiative presented by USAA. Navy sailors and Army National Guard soldiers participated in the event in the PNC Center and were accompanied by family and friends. The reenlistments allowed service members to formally extend their military contracts by reciting the official oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and to follow orders from superiors. The ceremony offered a public moment of recognition for service members and their families at the team’s training complex.
A reenlistment ceremony is a formal tradition in which service members voluntarily extend their contracts to continue serving in the armed forces. Shell Smith, commercial sponsorship coordinator at Morale, Welfare and Recreation Naval Station Great Lakes, said the reenlistments were wholly voluntary and that the setting made the event especially meaningful. She said, “This is a choice that they’re making, so this ceremony is based off of what the enlistee wants to do,” in remarks published by the team. Smith added, “This is a really unique and special opportunity that they can take for the rest of their career and say, ‘I got to re-enlist at Halas Hall.’ It’s just something that no other installation can do, and we’re so grateful that the Bears did it for us.”
Bears chairman George H. McCaskey spoke to the assembled service members and families and outlined the club’s long-standing relationship with the military. He said, “The Bears have a special affinity for the armed forces, and it’s not just because we play our games at Soldier Field,” noting founder George Halas’ military service. McCaskey showed a photograph of the Japanese surrender on the USS Missouri dated Sept. 2, 1945, that belonged to Halas and includes a handwritten message from Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz. “That photo occupies a place of honor in my office,” McCaskey said.
Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren followed McCaskey and thanked service members and their families for their sacrifice and commitment. He said, “It really is a blessing to stand before you today.” “We are honored,” Warren said. “We are humbled by your service, your sacrifice, your commitment, and also for the service, sacrifice and commitment of your families, who have to hold things down during challenging times.” Warren also noted his father’s World War II Army service and his brother’s service in the Marines during Vietnam.
Former Bears players Rashied Davis, Henry Melton and Kaseem Sinceno posed for photos and signed autographs for those in attendance. Commanding officers from nearby Naval Station Great Lakes, including Gary Hudson and Nick O’Neill, praised the opportunity for sailors to engage with the local community and said many in their commands attended because the experience may be uncommon. Hudson said the chance for sailors to see appreciation from a prominent local organization like the Bears was important. O’Neill called the event “fantastic” and noted the value of community engagement for service members.
NFL Sports Blog Take
The Bears’ Halas Hall reenlistment ceremony underscored the franchise’s ongoing public commitment to military outreach and community engagement. Hosting voluntary reenlistments at the team’s training complex, presented by USAA, gave service members a distinctive setting to reaffirm their commitment to continued service. Having team leadership and former players on hand reinforced the ceremonial nature of the event and connected the club’s history to contemporary support for the armed forces. The occasion illustrated how an NFL club can create a memorable local moment that recognizes service members beyond game-day acknowledgments.