Military

Cruiser Destroyer Group Eight

Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group 8 serves as Immediate Superior-in-Command for the THEODORE ROOSEVELT Battle Group, including USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, Carrier Air Wing Eight, Destroyer Squadron Two, USS ANZIO, and USS CAPE ST GEORGE. Acting as Operational Commander, CCDG-8 exercises oversight of unit level and integrated training and readiness for the group. In addition, CCDG-8 maintains administrative functions and material readiness tracking for ships and squadrons assigned to the group. CCDG-8 reports to Commander, SECOND Fleet as one of six Carrier Battle Group Commanders in the Atlantic Fleet.

The Commander of Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight was also Commander of the Eisenhower Battle Group. The ship normally operated as the centerpiece of a carrier battle group commanded by a flag officer embarked in USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and consisting of four-to-six other ships. in October 1994, IKE departed for a six-month deployment which included flying missions in support of Operations Southern Watch and Deny Flight. This deployment marked the first time that women had deployed as crew members of a US Navy combatant. The IKE, Carrier Wing Three, and COMCRUDESGRU Eight team included more than 400 women. IKE returned to Newport News Shipbuilding on July 17, 1995, for an 18-month complex overhaul which was completed on Jan. 27, 1997. The ship departed on its 10th deployment on June 10, 1998 and returned in December. In February 1999, IKE returned to the Norfolk Navy Shipyard for a six-month refitting and returned to the fleet in June. Upon completion in June 1999, she returned to full duty in the fleet. In late 1999 the Navy said readiness would degrade if lack of access to Vieques continued. If live-fire training at Vieques was not conducted during the second and final training exercise, JTFEX, in December 1999, it was anticipated the Eisenhower Battle Group would deploy in a significantly reduced state of combat readiness.