Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean, and U.S. Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific at all times. Fifth Fleet in Southwest Asia and one in the U.S. The Navy typically keeps at least one CSG in the U.S. The Fleet Response Plan requires that six CSGs be deployed or ready for deployment within 30 days at any given time, while two additional groups must be ready for deployment within 90 days. They were all redesignations of former Carrier Groups (CarGrus) and Cruiser-Destroyer Groups (CCDGs). “He said: ‘Don’t worry, Admiral, we’re going to get this done.’”ĭistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.The Navy maintains 11 carrier strike groups, 10 of which are based in the United States and one that is permanently homeported in Japan. “I remember one sailor in particular,” a young machinist’s mate from the engineering department, who came up afterward for a quick word, Roberston said. “I remember, I went on the loudspeaker to tell sailors we were going to extend our deployment and why,” Rear Adm. Those orders meant staying out a bit longer, as between April and June, the air wing’s pilots provided close-air support. In what was to be its final weeks in the Middle East came another new challenge: providing air support for the withdrawal of U.S. Keeping shipping chokepoints like Gibraltar, Bab-el-Mandeb and Hormuz open and practicing operations with allies was a key assignment for the deployment, which often saw the strike group’s ships ranging thousands of miles from one another.īut three months in, the Eisenhower had to shift gears - an assignment for its Carrier Air Wing 3 to fly in support of the continuing campaign against Islamic State remnants in Syria and Iraq. 18 and launched in a three-day joint exercise near the approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar with sailors and aviators from Morocco. The carrier, air wing and destroyers and cruisers deployed Feb. “We were tested and tried and we came through together - I think there’s a real feeling of connectedness now and it makes it easier to maintain our focus,” Campagna said. “I think the challenges we had, COVID, and the feeling that we came through them together are keeping everyone focused,” Campagna said. Returning just after Christmas, it had barely arrived in Norfolk when the Navy’s restriction of movement order came and a few weeks after that was in a final exercise before deploying in mid-February. Within weeks it was back for a series of “underways,” training for its next deployment. The Eisenhower barely had a break after returning from its 2020 deployment in August. “She’s got the kids helping, they’re a lot older, and we live in military housing and lot of the families help out.” “She gets it, she knows why I have to be here,” Bozeman said of his wife. The baby is his fourth child, but the first to be born while he was at sea. “I was this close,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Jack Bozeman, holding up two fingers just an inch apart and saying his son was born just four days ago. and I want to spend time with him and the kids.” “We had back-to-back deployments, been at sea for most of the last two years, and my husband has had the kids for years,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Jamice Wood, a 13-year veteran. Paul Campagna said everyone in the crew is eager to see family and friends again, “everyone knows the job isn’t over until the last line is tied at the pier.” Lewis was there to tell the crew that the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group, after sailing more than 190,000 miles, operating in waters from the Norwegian and Black seas to the Arabian Sea and the Gulf, had earned the Navy Unit Commendation, one of the highest honors the Secretary of the Navy can grant a crew.Īnd while Capt. Aguirre cracked a big grin for just a few seconds, then snapped her attention back to the screen in front of her, holding course at 305 degrees.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |