Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Nimitz Strike Group Set To Deploy

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG), including the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) and units assigned to CSG 11, departs July 31 with more than 7,000 Sailors for a scheduled Western Pacific deployment.

During the past few months, Nimitz CSG has conducted several training exercises off the coast of Southern California including composite unit training and joint task force training. They also completed fleet synthetic training as part of the deployment training cycle and are fully prepared and ready to deploy in support of contingency and humanitarian missions.

Last year, Nimitz CSG supported the U.S. commitment to peace and stability in the Pacific region during a four-month deployment. Nimitz CSG supported the maritime strategy by expanding cooperative relationships with the Republic of Korea (ROK) by participating in Operation Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2008.

Aircraft carriers continue to be one of our nation's primary on-call assets in times of need, and they enable the Navy to execute the six core capabilities of the maritime strategy – forward presence, deterrence, sea control, power projection, maritime security and humanitarian assistance/disaster response.

Commanded by Capt. Mike Manazir, Nimitz was commissioned in 1975, making it the first Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The ship is named for World War II Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz.