Carrier Strike Group Seven 2004 – 06 operations Carrier Strike Group Seven 2004 – 2006 operations included one deployments to the U . S . Fifth Fleet , and its embarked carrier air wing flew approximately 2940 air sorties in support of ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan while CARSTRKGRU - 7 surface warships supported theater security and maritime interdiction operation within that fleet ' s area of responsibility . It also participated in Valiant Shield 2006 , a major joint military exercise of the U . S . Pacific Command . Finally , Carrier Strike Group Seven provided humanitarian assistance after the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake . Prior to being re - designated as Carrier Strike Group Seven on 1 October 2004 , Carrier Group Seven ( CarGru - 7 ) and its " John C . Stennis " Carrier Battle Group participated in three different exercises during Summer Pulse 2004 , a multi - carrier surge deployment to test the U . S . Navy ' s then - new Fleet Response Plan . Carrier Strike Group Seven was based at Naval Air Station North Island , California . 2004 - 2005 operations . Carrier Group 7 , led by Rear Admiral Patrick M . Walsh aboard " John C . Stennis " , was one of six carrier battle groups to participate in Exercise Summer Pulse . Summer Pulse was a worldwide event incorporating a large number of sub - exercises . On 24 May 2004 , Carrier Group 7 departed Naval Station San Diego , California , for its 2004 Summer Pulse deployment to participate in Exercise Northern Edge in the Gulf of Alaska . The battle group returned to San Diego on 1 November 2004 after participating in Northern Edge 2004 , JASEX 2004 , and RIMPAC 2004 ( " pictured " ) . On 1 October 2004 Carrier Group Seven was re - designated as Carrier Strike Group Seven . Shortly after returning from the Summer Pulse ' 04 deployment , the group flagship changed from " John C . Stennis " to " Ronald Reagan " . " John C . Stennis " changed its homeport to Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton , Washington , and " Ronald Reagan " ' s Carrier Strike Group Fifteen had been disbanded effective 21 March 2005 . On 17 October 2005 , Carrier Strike Group 7 departed Naval Base San Diego , California , with Carrier Air Wing Fourteen ( CVW - 14 ) embarked on its new flagship , the carrier " Ronald Reagan " . The strike group began its Composite Training Unit Exercise ( COMPTUEX ) , which is a major requirement for the carrier strike group ’ s certification for its readiness for deployment . COMPTUEX is an 18 - day exercise designed to train the whole carrier strike group to function as one fighting force . The exercise consisted of two distinct phases and will be evaluated by Commander , Strike Force Training , U . S . Pacific Fleet . In addition to the group ' s own warships , several Royal Canadian Navy vessels also participated in this COMPTUEX training cycle , including the destroyer ; the frigates , , and ; and the replenishment tanker . On 10 November 2005 , Carrier Strike Group Seven completed its COMPTUEX training exercise and returned to port . Carrier Strike Group Nine , led by the carrier " Abraham Lincoln " , also participated during the final battle problem , integrating its Joint Task Force Exercise ( JTFEX - 05 ) into Carrier Strike Group Seven ' s COMPTUEX exercises . On 6 December 2005 , Carrier Strike Group Seven departed San Diego for Joint Task Force Exercise 06 - 2 ( JTFEX 06 - 2 ) off the coast of southern California . This nine - day exercise was the final step in preparing Carrier Strike Group Seven for its upcoming 2006 Western Pacific ( WESTPAC ) deployment , and it tested the strike group ’ s ability to plan and execute alongside other U . S . and coalition forces in a war - fighting environment . On 17 December 2005 , Carrier Strike Group Seven completed JTFEX 06 - 2 and returned to Naval Air Station North Island , with Admiral Miller noting : 2006 deployment . On 4 January 2006 , Carrier Strike Group Seven departed San Diego for its Western Pacific ( WESTPAC ) deployment under the command of Rear Admiral Michael H . Miller . This was the first overseas deployment for the strike group ' s flagship , the nuclear carrier " Ronald Reagan " . Off Hawaii , Carrier Strike Group completed a four - day Anti - Submarine Warfare ( ASW ) exercise on 12 January 2006 . The purpose of this exercise was to test the anti - submarine warfare capabilities of the strike group in real - world scenarios . During the exercise , an improved surface ship sonar system that was installed in both of the destroyers attached to Carrier Strike Group Seven was used for the first time . arrier Strike Group Seven entered the U . S . Fifth Fleet ' s area of responsibility ( AOR ) on 18 February 2006 , and fleet commander Vice Admiral Patrick M . Walsh visited the strike group ' s flagship , the carrier " Reagan " , on 27 February 2006 . On 22 February 2006 , F / A - 18E Super Hornets ( " pictured " ) assigned to Strike Fighter Attack Squadron 115 ( VFA - 115 ) became the first aircraft launched from the flight deck of USS " Ronald Reagan " to drop ordnance on enemy targets in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . Carrier Air Wing Fourteen squadrons VFA - 22 , VFA - 25 , VFA - 113 , and VFA - 115 were the first to deploy with F / A - 18 Hornet strike fighters equipped with the Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver ( ROVER ) system that allows ground forces , such as Joint terminal attack controller s ( JTAC ) , to see what an aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicle ( UAV ) is seeing in real time by receiving images acquired by the aircraft ' s sensors on a laptop on the ground via video transfer with little time delay . ROVER greatly improves the JTAC on the ground reconnaissance and target identification which are essential to close air support . On 3 April 2006 , the guided - missile cruiser " Lake Champlain " joined Combined Task Force 58 ( CTF - 58 ) , a multi - national force responsible for maritime security operations ( MSO ) in the Northern Persian Gulf . Additionally , CTF - 58 also played a key role in protecting both the Al Basrah Oil Terminal ( ABOT ) and the Khor Al Amaya Oil Terminal ( KAAOT ) . Also , the guided - missile destroyer " Decatur " conducted maritime security operations with the Pakistani - led Combined Task Force 150 off the coast of the Horn of Africa . Carrier Strike Group Seven performed a passing exercise ( PASSEX ) with the French naval task force , led by the nuclear carrier " Charles de Gaulle " on 27 April 2006 ( " pictured " ) . The PASSEX included drills in communications , air defense and surface warfare tactics . Aircraft from the French aircraft carrier also made “ touch - and - go ” landings aboard the " Reagan " during the exercise . The strike group also participated in a PASSEX with the Indian Navy in February 2006 . Beginning 15 May 2006 , the guided - missile destroyer " Decatur " joined the French naval task force operating in the North Arabian Sea . On 29 April 2006 , the guided - missile destroyer " McCambell " , with the fleet ocean tugboat , participated in a proof - of - concept demonstration with Bahrainian emergency management teams . The demonstration included a simulated oil spill as well as the subsequent containment - and - recovery operation outside the port of Mina Salman . Carrier Strike Group Seven completed operations with the Fifth Fleet on 29 May 2006 . During its deployment with the Fifth Fleet , Carrier Strike Group Seven launched more than 6 , 100 sorties , totaling more than 19 , 600 flight hours , with more than 2 , 940 sorties and 14 , 200 flight hours in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . Valiant Shield 2006 . From 19 – 23 June 2006 the strike group took part in Exercise Valiant Shield 2006 , held in the Guam operating area . The exercise included 28 naval vessels , nearly 300 aircraft and , approximately 22 , 000 Armed Forces personnel . Valiant Shield was designed to demonstrate the ability to conduct joint command and control operations , and to rapidly deploying joint forces in response to any regional contingency . The centerpiece of Valiant Shield 2006 was the three carrier strike groups ( " pictured " ) : Guided - missile destroyers " McCampbell " and " Decatur " performed anti - submarine warfare patrols off the coast of Guam . 2006 operations . On 20 October 2006 , the carrier " Ronald Reagan " returned to San Diego following a week of carrier qualifications ( CQ ) for Training Squadron 4 ( VT - 4 ) off the coast of Southern California . During this period , on 18 October , " Ronald Reagan " completed its 20 , 000 arrested landings ( " pictured " ) since the ship was commissioned in 2003 .