The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) joined ships from Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2 to conduct a pass-and-review as part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, July 15.
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), the Military Sealift Command fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8) and TR, the strike group flag ship, performed a variety of coordinated maneuvers.
“This evolution involved all of our ships in the strike group, except for the [guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60)],” said Chief Warrant Officer Ryan Keenan, the tactical action officer aboard TR. “It shows that we are ready to function as a unit.”
The event marked the beginning of increased integration and cooperation among the CSG assets, including Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1.
“It took our own [commanding officer], along with the air wing commander and DESRON commander, to plan and coordinate this many ships and aircraft this close together for the first time,” said Keenan.
The strike group will continue to conduct more integrated training in the coming months as it prepares for deployment next year.
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