Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Enters U.S. 6th Fleet

From USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) Public Affairs

ATLANTIC OCEAN (NNS) -- The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) entered 6th Fleet in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe March 16.

The TRCSG consists of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2 staff, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), and the guided-missile destroyers USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81).

"Operating in 6th Fleet is a great opportunity for us to work with our partners to build our capability and capacity to ensure a safe, secure and prosperous Europe," said Rear Adm. Andrew Lewis, commander, Carrier Strike Group 12. "No one nation can confront global threats alone, but by working together, we can promote freedom and security around the globe."

The strike group's various ships will work with allied and partner nations throughout Europe in order to continue building existing partnerships and improve war-fighting capability and interoperability. Ships will also visit various ports while in 6th Fleet.

The five ships and nine aircraft squadrons of TRCSG consist of approximately 6,000 Sailors and Marines who have spent the last year conducting intensive training and certification exercises to establish a safe, cohesive organization capable of performing a wide variety of missions across the globe, ranging from counter-piracy and ground support operations to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

Working with allied and partner maritime forces, TRCSG units will focus heavily on maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts which help establish conditions for regional stability.

Theodore Roosevelt, the strike group's flagship, departed from Norfolk to conduct an around-the-world deployment, which will end with her shift in homeport to San Diego. TR's change in homeport is part of a three carrier shift involving USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and USS George Washington (CVN 73).

Theodore Roosevelt, named in honor of the 26th U.S. President, was commissioned Oct. 25, 1984 as the 4th Nimitz-Class aircraft carrier.