Exercise: Aircraft Carrier to Deploy With Striker Group

170601-N-OY799-1435 SEA OF JAPAN (June 1, 2017) Ships from the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, including USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) and guided-missile destroyers USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) and USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), the Ronald Reagan strike group, including USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67), and guided-missile destroyers USS Barry (DDG 52), USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), and USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62), and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships JS Hyuga (DDH 181) and JS Ashigara (DDG 178) are conducting routine training to improve interoperability and readiness to provide stability and security for the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) will visit Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Wednesday, June 14, for a regularly scheduled deployment with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative to extend the command and control functions of U.S. 3rd Fleet into the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

Commanded by Capt. Douglas Verissimo, the ship and crew of more than 5,000 sailors departed Naval Air Station North Island in January 2017.

During the deployment, Carl Vinson conducted training as part of the strike group off the coast of Hawai‘i to improve readiness and cohesion.

Carl Vinson also conducted bilateral operations with the Republic of Korea Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, including visit, board, search-and-seizure drills, tactical maneuvering, flag hoisting drills, photo exercises and air, surface and anti-submarine warfare training.

Additionally, Carl Vinson participated in the maritime portion of Exercise Foal Eagle, a series of annual defense-oriented training events designed to increase readiness to defend the Republic of Korea, protect the region and maintain stability on the Korean Peninsula. The exercise is conducted by Republic of Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command and U.S. component commands in Korea, to include ground, air, naval and special operations.

Over the five-and-a-half month span, Carl Vinson executed port visits in Guam; Busan, Republic of Korea; and Singapore. While visiting each port, Carl Vinson sailors participated in numerous community service events, including volunteer service at schools, community centers, an animal shelter and a food bank.

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy. Third Fleet constantly coordinates with U.S. 7th Fleet to plan and execute missions based on their complementary strengths to promote ongoing peace, security, and stability throughout the entire Pacific theater of operations.