US Navy aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and ships from its carrier strike group are returning home just three months after starting a deployment to the US 6th Fleet.
US Navy aircraft carriers usually deploy for a period of seven months. However, Truman’s deployment was not cut short by a technical defect or some other unforeseen development.
Instead, select Harry S. Truman carrier strike group units are returning home under the new dynamic force employment concept that will allow the US Navy to be operationally unpredictable while remaining strategically predictable.
“Let me be clear – all returning units are 100 percent mission capable and will remain in the sustainment phase of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan, which means they will sustain warfighting readiness and be ready to surge forward or redeploy when called upon,” said Adm. Christopher Grady, commander, US Fleet Forces Command.
Adm Grady noted that the Truman CSG had had a successful three months in the US 6th Fleet area of responsibility. The ship accomplished every objective established for its crew, from striking ISIS in Syria to working with allies in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
“As with any in-port period, routine maintenance will be conducted on ships, aircraft and equipment, and sailors will take the opportunity to continue advanced training, maintain warfighting certifications, as well as spend time with their families,” the admiral said.
As outlined in the US National Defense Strategy, the dynamic force employment concept will prioritize maintaining the capacity and capabilities for major combat, while providing options for proactive and scalable employment of the joint force.
The dynamic force employment concept will change the way the US uses its assets to introduce unpredictability to adversaries.