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JCSSG Sets Sights on San Diego

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070821-22
Release Date: 8/21/2007 2:59:00 PM

From USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs

USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, and USS Antietam (CG 54) are scheduled to arrive in San Diego, Aug. 27, marking the strike group’s return after a nearly eight-month deployment.

While deployed, the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSSG) supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, maritime operations, coalition operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, Expeditionary Strike Force training and most recently, Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 in the Pacific.

“The performance of the John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group has been magnificent,” said Commander, Carrier Strike Group 3, Rear Adm. Kevin Quinn. “I couldn’t be more proud of them. Contributing to security and stability in the Middle East, as well as the Pacific, is one of the most important missions of the United States Navy.”

JCSSG spent five months deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet AOO. While there, Stennis and CVW-9 flew more than 7,900 sorties providing more than 22,000 flight hours and dropping nearly 90,000 pounds of ordnance in support of coalition forces operating on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Stennis’ Commanding Officer, Capt. Brad Johanson, also assessed the ship’s performance while on station.

"Throughout this deployment Stennis has set a new standard for the performance of carriers in a combat zone,” said Johanson. “The missions we sent into Afghanistan and Iraq and the strong presence we established in the [Persian] Gulf made a very significant difference in providing security and stability to the entire region.”

While this marks the end of deployment for CVW-9 and Antietam, Stennis will continue to its homeport of Bremerton, Wash., following its visit to San Diego.

JCSSG includes the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier Stennis, embarked CVW-9, Destroyer Squadron 21, the guided-missile cruiser Antietam, the guided-missile destroyers USS O’Kane (DDG 77), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), and the fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10). More than 6,500 Sailors and Marines are assigned to JCSSG.

The squadrons of CVW-9 include: the “Black Knights” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 154, “Blue Diamonds” of VFA-146, “Argonauts” of VFA-147, “Death Rattlers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 323, “Yellow Jackets” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 138, “Golden Hawks” of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 112, “Top Cats” of Sea Control Squadron (VS) 31, “Eightballers” of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 8 and “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30.