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Team Vinson Welcomes NAVCENT/CF5

Navy News Service

Story Number: NNS150127-07
Release Date: 1/27/2015 9:09:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class James Bleyle, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) Public Affairs

USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70), At sea (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT)/U.S. 5th Fleet (C5F), Vice Adm. John Miller held an admiral's-call aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Jan. 26.

Miller expressed his gratitude for Team Vinson's service and explained the impact of the Carl Vinson and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 crews' support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

'Carl Vinson has recently reached the milestone of dropping 500 bombs on targets, with a 97 percent success rate,' Miller said. 'To do that in the very complex and dynamic environment in which we are operating is absolutely incredible. It takes the entire Carl Vinson team to get that done. Every single Sailor has contributed to that success rate.'

Miller then acknowledged the crew's seamless turnover as Carl Vinson assumed the role of on-scene carrier in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility from the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), Oct. 19, 2014.

'This was the smoothest turnover that I have ever seen during my naval career,' Miller said. 'One day planes were launching off of Bush and striking targets, and the next day they were launching off of Carl Vinson; The Islamic State of Iraq and Levant didn't know the difference.'

Miller opened the floor for a question-and-answer session with the crew. Among the topics discussed where the threat condition level in Bahrain and whether an air campaign alone would be enough to help Iraqi soldiers defeat ISIL.

'When ISIL came across the border in June, they were like an army,' Miller said. 'But now, they are merely a terrorist organization that is finding it more and more difficult to operate and govern. They are losing in Iraq. They are losing ground, they are losing hearts and minds and they are losing people. Eventually the Iraqis will be successful in eradicating ISIL, and we're going to help them get there because Carl Vinson continues to operate with lethal precision. Every Sailor on board should be very proud of what they are doing.'

Carl Vinson is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve, performing strike operations in Iraq and Syria as directed, maritime security operations, and theater security cooperation efforts in the region.