By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Alexia M. Riveracorrea, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- The San Diego element of the Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) departed Nov. 5 for a six-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 7th Fleet areas of operations.
Units from San Diego include Amphibious Squadron 1, USS Tarawa (LHA 1), USS Cleveland (LPD 7), USS Germantown (LSD 42), 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit and elements of Naval Beach Group 1. USS Port Royal (CG 73), USS Hopper (DDG 70) and USS Ingraham (FFG 61) will join the Tarawa ESG in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
"We will be working with different units as one team in the Pacific and Indian Oceans," said Capt. John Miley, ESG commander. "The crew is ready to provide support and humanitarian assistance."
More than 5,500 Sailors and Marines make up the Tarawa ESG, which has the flexibility and power to conduct strike warfare and engage enemy forces in the air, on the sea's surface and beneath the surface. In addition, they provide support capabilities using landing craft air cushion and landing craft utility vehicles, CH-46s, CH-53s, AH-1, UH-1, SH-60 helicopters and AV-8B Harrier jet aircraft.
"All the training, preparation and everything we've done over the past year up to this point will now be put to the test wherever we're ordered to go," said Capt. Donald R. Shunkwiler, Tarawa's commanding officer. "Our crew is well-trained to carry out the mission in all aspects."
Prior to ship's departure, families and friends at the pier spent time with their Sailor or Marine, giving their last goodbye.
"My family just hopes the best for me and that I do my job and come back safe," said Information Systems Technician 3rd Class (SW) Erik Andrade Torres, Tarawa. "This is my first six-month deployment, and I look forward to visiting new countries, learning more about different cultures and helping the community."
During a 2005 deployment, the Tarawa ESG conducted maritime security operations, participated in Exercise Bright Star and served as an afloat staging base in the North Arabian Gulf, where they trained with the Iraqi navy and protected key Iraqi oil terminals.
