Sailors aboard the U.S. Navy’s nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) departed their homeport of Naval Base Kitsap – Bremerton for a regularly scheduled deployment, January 15.
Stennis Sailors manned the rails as the ship sailed away from the pier and began the transit through the Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean.
This is the first deployment for Stennis after having gone through a dry dock period at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, where the ship received scheduled maintenance and upgrades.
Stennis’ crew has spent 56% of the past year underway preparing for this deployment to the Western Pacific area of operations. They expect to participate in a number of exercises; training, integrating and building capacity with allies in that region.
Captain Mike Wettlaufer , Stennis’ commanding officer, said: “Deploying is the culmination of our training. This crew has attacked every challenge thrown their way, and as we leave to answer our nation’s call, I couldn’t be any prouder of them. We are ready.”
Stennis is the nuclear-powered flagship of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSSG), which will also deploy as part of an ongoing rotation of U.S. forces supporting maritime security operations in waters around the world.
The strike group will be the centerpiece of the Great Green Fleet, a year-long initiative highlighting the Navy’s efforts to transform its energy use to increase operational capability.
The U.S. Navy said the JCSSG would use energy efficiency measures, to include technologies and operational procedures, and alternative fuel in the course of its normal operations.
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