US aircraft carrier John C. Stennis returns from seven-month deployment

U.S. Navy’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis and more than 7,000 of its sailors returned to San Diego following a seven-month deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

The ship entered Naval Base San Diego on August 10.

JCSSG left on deployment January 15 and operated in both U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of responsibility, including more than 60 days in the South China Sea.

John C. Stennis met with another U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, in the Philippine Sea on June 18. The carriers coordinated flights and conducted dual carrier operations.

Rear Adm. Marcus A. Hitchcock, commander, JCSSG, commended the Sailors on completion of their deployment.

“I am proud of our sailors and their dedication during the last seven months,” said Hitchcock. “They performed admirably, excelling in both complex exercises and the often demanding maritime environment.”

While underway, JCSSG worked alongside international partners during exercises Balikatan, Komodo, Foal Eagle, Malabar and Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).

Ships from JCSSG made port calls to Fiji, Guam, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and South Korea. These port visits provided Sailors the opportunity to interact and experience the culture of the countries they visited. Many sailors volunteered alongside local groups in community service projects, while others took part in organized tours provided through the ships’ Moral, Welfare, and Recreation programs.

Strike group ships sailed more than 66,000 nautical miles over the course of their time underway, while aircraft flew over 19,000 hours with fixed wing aircraft launching and landing from the aircraft carrier’s catapults and recovery gear more than 8,500 times.

JCSSG consists of aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21, and Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53).

DESRON 21’s ships which deployed with the strike group include Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), USS Stockdale (DDG 106), and USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93).

John C. Stennis and JCSSG staff will return to their homeport of Bremerton, Washington, following the brief stop in San Diego.

DESRON 21 ships Stockdale and William P. Lawrence, and JCSSG air and missile defense commander Mobile Bay will return to Naval Base San Diego August 11.