George Washington Completes Sea Trials, Ready for Patrol

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Oscar Albert Moreno Jr., USS George Washington Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy's forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) returned to its forward-operating location of Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, May 23, after completing sea trials.

Sea trials occur over a period of four days, allowing ships to evaluate and assess their equipment status and personnel readiness for follow-on at-sea training.

"Sea trials are without a doubt essential to prepare for a patrol," said Quartermaster 1st Class Pon Mingkhouan, from Raleigh, North Carolina "Sea trials not only allow us to test our equipment, but also give new Sailors a taste of what the work days will be like during patrol."

George Washington completed numerous evolutions during Sea Trials, including a replenishment-at-sea, refueling-at-sea, man overboard drills, anchor drop test, high-powered turns, aqueous film forming foam counter-measure wash down, and other events.

"We must ensure that the ship and its crew are mission ready," said Boatswain's Mate Seaman Joshua Hart, from Calhoun, Georgia. "In case of an emergency, we must be ready to respond to whatever happens and whenever it happens."

With a successful sea trials complete, George Washington makes its final preparations to return to sea for its upcoming 2014 patrol.

George Washington and its embarked air wing, Carrier Air Wing 5, provide a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interest of the U.S. and its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.