George Washington will relieve USS Ronald Reagan as forward-deployed naval forces aircraft carrier for TEAM SOUTHCOM during a “historic carrier swap” this summer.
NORFOLK, Va. — The USS George Washington will be departing Hampton Roads on Thursday morning.
According to Navy officials, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier will be departing Naval Station Norfolk with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10 to deploy to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations or TEAM SOUTHCOM.
After its departure on Thursday, the aircraft carrier will not be returning to Naval Station Norfolk. Navy officials said it will instead transit South America and head to Yokosuka, Japan.
The George Washington will relieve USS Ronald Reagan as the forward-deployed naval forces aircraft carrier during a “historic carrier swap at Naval Air Station North Island this summer.”
Navy officials say the George Washington has undergone pre-deployment certification and inspections including flight deck certification and the Board of Inspection and Survey, among others.
“Team Warfighter is ready to go,” said Capt. Tim Waits, commanding …
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