By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Byron C. Linder, Commander, Seventh Fleet Public Affairs
PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The Carl Vinson Strike Group arrived in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility Dec. 31 as part of a scheduled deployment.
While in the 7th Fleet, the Strike Group will conduct exercises with allies and partners and visit ports around the region. Carrier Strike Group 1 (CSG 1) is commanded by Rear Adm. Samuel Perez.
The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) is deployed with USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), USS Stockdale (DDG 106) and USS Gridley (DDG 101). Destroyer Squadron 1 is embarked aboard Vinson along with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17. CVW-17 is comprised of the "Red Lions" of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron 15, the "Fighting Redcocks" of Strike Fighter Squadron 22, the "Fist of the Fleet" of Strike Fighter Squadron 25, the "Sunliners" of Strike Fighter Squadron 81, the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40, the "Garudas" of Electronic Attack Squadron 134, the "Stingers" of Strike Fighter Squadron 113 and the "Tigertails" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125.
"We are looking forward to every opportunity to build friendships and enhance partnerships in the region," said Perez.
The U.S. Navy maintains a robust forward presence in the Asia-Pacific region, utilizing both forward deployed naval forces in Japan and Guam, as well as rotationally deployed forces from the continental United States and Hawaii.
This deployment by the Vinson Strike Group includes several firsts. It is the first major deployment for USS Carl Vinson after a three-year nuclear refueling, and it is the first major deployment by Carrier Strike Group 1 (CSG-1) since its establishment October 1, 2009. CSG 1 led USS Carl Vinson and USS Bunker Hill earlier this year in support of disaster response and humanitarian operations in Haiti. This is also the first deployment of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Stockdale, and USS Bunker Hill's first deployment since it underwent cruiser modernization, the first Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser to complete its mid-life modernization.
This is USS Carl Vinson's first visit to 7th Fleet since 2005.