US Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and ships from its carrier strike group (CSG) began sorties from the Persian Gulf in support of operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) on December 1.
Aircraft from the squadrons of embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are launching sorties in support of the fight against ISIS.
“The first day of flight operations supporting operation Inherent Resolve is a highly-anticipated day where the Theodore Roosevelt strike group transitions into combat operations to demonstrate our continued commitment to this region and our partner nations,” said Rear Adm. Steve Koehler, commander of Carrier Strike Group 9. “Success in this important mission takes every sailor and marine on board working as a team. I’m incredibly proud of all the work this team has done throughout their training and preparation, they are ready and now it is time to go to work.”
Theodore Roosevelt left its homeport of San Diego, October 6, for a regularly-scheduled deployment to the US 7th and 5th Fleet areas of operations. Roosevelt’s last deployment to US 5th Fleet was in 2015 during the ship’s homeport shift from Norfolk.
Theodore Roosevelt’s change of homeport was part of a three-carrier swap that included USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, and USS George Washington (CVN 73), which homeported in Norfolk.