|
George H.W. Bush CSG Completes Historic Deployment
by U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group 10
April 24, 2023
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) returned to
its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk on April 23, 2023.
|
April 23, 2023 - The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS
George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), along with the staff of carrier
Strike Group (CSG) 10, returns to Naval Station Norfolk
following an eight-month deployment. The George H.W. Bush CSG was deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests. (Image
created by USA Patriotism! from U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anderson W. Branch.) |
“Since taking command before deployment, I
have had the privilege and honor to serve with the finest warriors,
teacher, leaders, and ambassadors in the U.S. Navy,” said Capt. Dave
Pollard, commanding officer of George H.W. Bush. “Our Sailors serve
our great nation honorably, exemplifying the service, grit, humility
and resilience our namesake, President George Herbert Walker Bush,
throughout his life of service to family and country.”
George H.W. Bush is the flagship of Carrier
Strike Group (CSG) 10, George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group. It
spent the entirety of its 2022-2023 deployment in the Naval Forces
Europe –Naval Forces Africa area of operations.
“I am
extremely proud of Captain Pollard and the teamwork,
professionalism, and grit the Avengers brought to the strike group
team,” said Rear Adm. Dennis Velez, commander, CSG-10, George H.W.
Bush CSG. “They excelled during a very challenging deployment where
we demonstrated the awesome power of a U.S. Navy carrier strike
group to our partners and allies, while messaging our adversaries
that we were ready to defend every inch of NATO territory.”
While in the Mediterranean, the ship participated in and supported a
multitude of multinational exercises to increase NATO capability and
deter aggression in the region. The ship also completed port visits
in Croatia, Italy, France, and Greece.
Some of ship’s highlights from deployment
included participation in the NATO-led vigilance activity Neptune
Strike (NEST) 22.3 and NEST 23.1. Additionally, the ship
participated extensively in exercise Juniper Oak 23-2, the largest
bi-lateral U.S.-Israeli exercise in history.
|
January 24, 2023 - The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike
Group sails in formation with the Israeli Navy during
exercise Juniper Oak 2023-2. Juniper Oak 23-2 is a bilateral
military exercise, led by U.S. Central Command and the
Israeli Defense Force, designed to enhance interoperability
between the U.S. and Israel militaries. Juniper Oak 23-2
joins the long-standing “Juniper” series that the U.S. and
Israel have conducted for more than 20-years. (U.S. Navy
photos by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Novalee
Manzella and Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class
Nicholas Avis.)
|
Throughout the deployment, the ship
supported combined operations with key NATO allies including the
Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (C 550), the Spanish
Expeditionary Strike Group, and the French Carrier Strike Group
during multiple integrated periods. Similarly, French Rafale
aircraft launched and recovered from the deck of George H.W. Bush
during the deployment.
Notable visitors to the ship included NATO
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the Chief of Israeli Defense
Forces, Commanders, of U.S. European Command and U.S. Central
Command, Naval Forces Europe-Africa, U.S. 6th Fleet, and U.S. Fifth
Fleet.
A major focus of the deployment for George H.W. Bush
was the deliberate development of safety culture. Aircraft carriers
are one of the world’s most dangerous working environments, and it
was critical for the ship to make a focused effort to engage its
Sailors to minimize unnecessary risk to the maximum extent possible.
As a result, the ship earned the ship the annual Afloat Safety Award
and the Vice Admiral Bulkeley Award for Afloat Safety Culture for
2022.
The ship also placed significant effort into Sailor
health and well-being, using every tool at its disposal. Services
and support such as chaplain support, a deployment resiliency
counselor and educator, a shipboard Avenger TV program and daily
Avenger newspaper, homegrown associations and clubs, and United
Through Reading were widely used as opportunities to build
connectedness and community.
Beyond developing an active
culture for Sailors to engage in, the ship hosted a few morale
boosting events. First, the ship hosted the star of Top Gun:
Maverick, Tom Cruise, writer and producer Christopher McQuarrie, and
editor Eddie Hamilton, along with Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham
who all took time to visit with Sailors in the ship’s hangar bay for
a special viewing of the movie. Later, hit maker Blanco Brown
visited the ship as part of a USO tour.
The integration and
teamwork displayed during George H.W. Bush’s time in the Sixth Fleet
area of responsibility created opportunities for high-end maritime
integration, pursuing mutual interests in maintaining free and open
access for all in international waters, and improving collective
proficiency and interoperability among allies.
U.S. Sixth
Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of
joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and
interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests
and security and stability in Europe and Africa.
CSG-10 is comprised of George H.W. Bush,
Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the
Information Warfare Commander, and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile
cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55).
USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77)
earned the 2022 Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic Battle “E”
Effectiveness Award, Chief of Naval Operations Afloat Safety Award,
the VADM Bulkeley Award, 2022 Navy Public Affairs Awards including
the Navy Media Excellence Award for best overall products in the
Fleet, Navy Public Affairs Campaign awards and recognition for
Community Outreach, Special Events and Projects, and Internal
Communication, the Carl Scheufele Award for most outstanding Chief
Petty Officer Food Service Operation, the Disbursing Excellence
Award, and the 2022 Navy Surgeons General’s Health Promotion and
Wellness Award (Blue “H”).
George H.W. Bush is the flagship
of CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG. CSG-10 is comprised of George H.W.
Bush, CVW-7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Information Warfare
Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS
Leyte Gulf (CG 55).
The ships of DESRON-26 completing
deployment with CSG-10 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile
destroyers USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), and USS
Delbert D. Black (DDG 119).
The squadrons of CVW-7 embarked
aboard the George H.W. Bush are the "Sidewinders" of VFA-86, the
"Jolly Rogers" of VFA-103, the "Knighthawks" of VFA-136, the "Pukin
Dogs" of VFA-143, the "Bluetails" of Airborne Command and Control
Squadron (VAW) 121, the "Patriots" of Electronic Attack Squadron
(VAQ) 140, the "Nightdippers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron
(HSC) 5, and the "Grandmasters" of Helicopter Maritime Strike
Squadron (HSM) 46.
Related
Video > USS George H.W. Bush Returns To NSN
U.S. Navy | U.S. Navy Gifts |
U.S. Department of Defense
Our Valiant Troops |
I Am The One |
Veterans |
Citizens Like Us
|
|
