Carrier Strike Group Three 2004 – 09 operations Carrier Strike Group Three 2004 – 2009 operations included a world cruise , three western Pacific ( WESTPAC ) deployments and a change - over of its flagship . During this period , CARSTRGRU - 3 provided combat operational support for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan ( OEF - A ) as well as participated such major exercises as Valiant Shield 2007 , Key Resolve / Foal Eagle 2009 , and Northern Edge 2009 . The strike group ' s 2005 WESTPAC deployment marked the final overseas mission for Sea Control Squadron 33 ( VS - 33 ) , the " Screwbirds " . Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 ( HSM - 71 ) , a new component to Carrier Air Wing Nine ( CVW - 9 ) , became the first squadron of its kind to embark on board a carrier as part of a carrier air wing when it operated with Carrier Strike Group Three during its 2009 WESTPAC deployment Carrier Strike Group Three ( CSG - 3 or CARSTRGRU - 3 ) is one of six U . S . Navy carrier strike group s currently assigned to the U . S . Pacific Fleet . CARSTRGRU - 3 is currently based at Naval Base Kitsap , Washington , and it typically deploys to the U . S . Seventh Fleet operating in the Western Pacific ( WESTPAC ) and the U . S . Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf . The " Nimitz " - class nuclear - powered aircraft carrier became the current flagship for Carrier Strike Group Three , replacing the which began its 36 - month mid - life refueling and complex overhaul in 2005 . 2004 operations . Change of command . On 26 June 2004 , Rear Admiral Bruce W . Clingan ( " pictured " ) relieved Rear Admiral Evan M . Chanik , Jr . , as Commander Carrier Group Three ( ComCarGru 3 ) . During his tenure as ComCarGru 3 , Chanik led the " Carl Vinson " strike group which was the first to undergo the new , innovative Inter - Deployment Training Cycle ( IDTC ) , which greatly compressed the training required for oversea deployment . Admiral Chanik ' s next assignment was as director , Programming Division on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations . A naval aviator , Admiral Clingan served as the commanding officer of U . S . Sixth Fleet flagship and the aircraft carrier , and prior to taking command of Carrier Group Three , he served as the deputy director of Operations , U . S . Central Command , during Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan ( OEF - A ) and Operation Iraqi Freedom ( OIF ) . Pre - deployment training . In September 2004 , Carrier Group Three ( CarGru 3 ) departed for its 22 - day Composite Training Unit Exercise ( COMPTUEX ) off the coast of Southern California . COMPUTEX was an intermediate - level , two - phase strike group training exercise that was a critical step toward the final certification to deploy overseas for a carrier strike group . Phase I provided training for warfare commanders and the rest of the strike group in operational tasking and decision - making . Phase II measured the ability of the strike group to act as a coordinated , combat - ready force , and it was intended to closely resemble real - life conflict . On 1 October 2004 , Carrier Group Three was redesignated as Carrier Strike Group Three ( CARSTRKGRU 3 ) . A day later , on 2 October 2004 , the newly renamed Carrier Strike Group Three completed its COMPTUEX . 2005 World Cruise . In 17 January 2005 , " Carl Vinson " departed Bremerton , Washington , with CVW - 9 embarked for a six - month deployment , which included several months in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom . On 30 January 2005 , COMCARSTKGRU 9 departed San Diego for its around the world voyage following the completion of Joint Task Force Exercise 05 - 2 ( FTFE 05 - 2 ) under the command of Rear Admiral Bruce W . Clingan . This overseas deployment also marked the final overseas mission for the fast combat support ship and Sea Control Squadron 33 ( VS - 33 ) , the " Screwbirds " . The carrier strike group paid a port visit to Dubai . On 5 May 2005 , during a visit to strike group flagship " Vinson " on 5 May 2005 , United States Central Command commander General John Abizaid paid tribute to the personnel of Carrier Strike Group Three : " Whenever I see young Marines and young Sailors at work where they are doing what their country ’ s asking them to do in a hard place , I can only come away thankful and impressed . " Carrier Strike Group Three completed its 2005 western Pacific ( WESTPAC ) deployment and world cruise at Naval Station Norfolk , Virginia on 31 July 2005 . Joint Task Force Exercise 05 - 2 . Carrier Strike Group Three participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 05 - 2 ( JTFEX 05 - 2 ) off the coast of southern California . The exercise was the final step in preparing the strike group for deployment by testing its ability to operate in a complex , hostile environment with other U . S . and coalition forces , which included an anti - submarine warfare exercise ( ASWEX ) , numerous simulated Tomahawk strike missions , an air defense exercise , and exercises with naval special warfare forces . Other participating military forces included Patrol Squadron 40 ( VP - 40 ) ; helicopter squadrons HSL - 45 and HSL - 49 ; and units from the Air Force Eighth Air Force . Admiral Clingan noted : The Sailors and Marines of the " Carl Vinson " Strike Group have performed marvelously during the Joint Task Force Exercise . I couldn ’ t be more pleased with the way the strike group came together as a team and outperformed all expectations . This was a challenging exercise that required all of us to have our head in the game and think critically about how we fight . Everyone rose to that challenge and met it head on . There is no doubt our team is ready to answer our nation ’ s call during deployment . With the 22 - day exercise successfully completed on 30 January 2005 , U . S . 3rd Fleet Commander Vice Adm . Michael McCabe certified that Carrier Strike Group Three was ready for its upcoming 2005 western Pacific ( WESTPAC ) deployment . 2005 WESTPAC Deployment . Carrier air operations . Carrier Strike Group Three relieved Carrier Strike Group Ten , led by the carrier , on 19 March 2005 . On 8 May 2005 , F / A - 18C Hornet fighter jets dropped six precision bombs against anti - Iraqi forces south of Samarra , Iraq , while conducting presence and security missions in support of Iraqi and coalition ground forces . The aircraft came from CVW - 9 squadrons VMFA - 323 and VFA - 147 ( " pictured " ) . Also , a detachment from helicopter squadron HS - 3 patrolled southeastern Iraq and the northern Persian Gulf to protect vital infrastructure , including Khawr Abd Allah and Khawr As Sabiyah , the waterways that separate Iraq from Iran and Kuwait . The detachment was temporarily based at Camp Arifjan , Kuwait . In total , Carrier Strike Group Three launched more than 6 , 500 sorties , totaling more than 20 , 000 flight hours , in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime interdiction operations , including 2 , 600 flight hours logged by CVW - 9 ' s four F - 18 squadrons . This overseas deployment marked the final overseas mission for Sea Control Squadron 33 ( VS - 33 ) , the " Screwbirds " . Maritime security operations . Overall , ships under the control of DESRON 31 conducted more than 80 boarding evolutions while working in cooperation with British , Italian , Australian , Canadian and regional forces . On 11 June 2005 , DESRON - 31 destroyer " ( pictured ) " rendered at - sea medical assistance in response to a radio distress call from the Iranian - flagged fishing dhow " Henif " . A rigid hull inflatable boat ( RHIB ) transported an ill Iranian crew member to " Mustin " , where he was subsequently transported to " Carl Vinson " via an SH - 60 helicopter . Once aboard " Vinson " , the Iranian fisherman was taken to the ship ’ s medical facilities where he underwent a battery of tests . It was discovered that the fisherman was suffering from a severe allergic reaction . The Iranian national was treated , and after a short period of recovery , he was returned to the " Henif " via one of the carrier ’ s RHIBs . CARSTRGRU - 3 Flagship Changeover . Carrier Strike Group Three completed its 2005 deployment at Naval Station Norfolk on 31 July 2005 , and the carrier began its scheduled 36 - month Refueling Complex Overhaul ( RCOH ) at the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard at Newport News , Virginia ( " pictured " ) . The ship will spend nearly two - thirds of its RCOH in dry dock to accomplish planned repairs and install the latest technologies in computer software , combat systems , propulsion controls , and aviation support , including the installation of new propellers and a main master for its island superstructure . Following its RCOH , the " Vinson " became the flagship for Carrier Strike Group One . The new Carrier Strike Group Three flagship , the aircraft carrier , changed its homeport to Bremerton in January 2005 , and once there , underwent an 11 - month Docking Planned Incremental Availability ( DPIA ) 05 / 06 maintenance and yard overhail period , the first time she had been dry - docked since its 1995 commissioning . Reflecting the reduced responsibilities while the ships were undergoing overhauls , Rear Admiral Clingan was succeeded by Captain Scott A . Berg in September 2005 as Commander Carrier Strike Group Three ( COMCARSTKGRU 3 ) . Rear Admiral Kevin M . Quinn subsequently relieved Captain Berg in November 2005 . 2006 Operations . Pre - deployment training . " Stennis " s post - DPIA sea trials occurred between 12 December – 17 , 2005 , and the carrier completed its post - overhaul flight deck operation certification on 8 February 2006 . " Stennis " also completed its carrier qualifications ( CQ ) for Carrier Air Wing Nine ( CVW - 9 ) pilots in April 2006 , and the ship passed its Board of Inspection and Survey ( INSURV ) certification on 21 April 2006 . The carrier and CVW - 9 began conducting cyclic flight operations off the coast of Southern California on 21 June 2006 , and " Stennis " successfully completed a subsequent seven - week underway period on 18 July 2006 , being declared surge ready for any unscheduled overseas deployment . The warships of the group began pre - deployment training during composite training unit exercises ( COMPTUEX ) on 21 September 2006 . DESRON - 21 guided missile destroyers , , and joined the guided missile cruiser and the carrier " Vinson " in anti - submarine warfare ( ASW ) active / passive track training exercises . " O ' Kane " practiced boarding and searching suspect vessels and fast attack craft / fast inshore attack craft countermeasure exercises . " Paul Hamilton " conducted visit , board , search and seizure ( VBSS ) team exercises as well Tomahawk land attack missile exercises ( TLAMEX ) . " Stennis " and Carrier Air Wing Nine ( CVW - 9 ) completed surge flight operations certifications . Carrier Strike Group Three completed its COMPTUEX exercises on 12 October 2006 . Joint Task Force Exercise . Carrier Strike Group Three ( CARSTKGRU 3 ) departed Naval Air Station North Island to conduct its Joint Task Force Exercise ( JTFEX ) off the coast of Southern California on 8 November 2006 . It consisted of the carrier " Stennis " , Carrier Wing Nine ; the guided missile cruiser " Antietam " , the guided missile destroyers " O ’ Kane " , " Paul Hamilton " , and " Preble " ; the nuclear attack submarine ; and the fast combat support ship . For this exercise , CARSTRKGRU 3 operated with Carrier Strike Group Seven which consists of the carrier ; the guided missile cruiser , and the guided missile destroyers and . The two carrier strike groups rendezvoused off the coast of Southern California to form Carrier Task Force 150 ( CTF - 150 ) , which operated between 12 November – 16 , 2006 , under the overall command of Rear Admiral Kevin M . Quinn , the commander of Carrier Strike Group Three . The group returned to Naval Base Kitsap , Bremerton , Washington , on 21 November 2006 after completing the exercise . 2007 Operations . 2007 WESTPAC Deployment . " Stennis " departed from its homeport in Bremerton , Washington , on 16 January 2006 , spent one day in port on - loading the air wing onto the carrier , and departed San Diego on 20 January 2006 . The carrier strike group commander , Rear Admiral Kevin M . Quinn , outlined the objectives of the deployment : The strike group returned to San Diego on 27 August 2007 , and the carrier " John C . Stennis " returned to its homeport on 31 August 2007 . Seventh Fleet operations . Carrier Strike Group Three ( CARSTRGRU - 3 ) entered the U . S . Seventh Fleet area of responsibility ( AOR ) on 31 January 2007 . and the Guam Operating area ( GOA ) on 4 February 2007 , where CARSTRGRU - 3 conducted integrated strike group ( ISG ) training exercises between 6 February – 8 , 2007 . This training included maritime interdiction operations ( MIO ) ; visit , board , search and seizure ( VBSS ) ; combat - simulated flight operations ; and various live - fire surface exercises . Fifth Fleet operations . Carrier Strike Group Three arrived in the Northern Arabian Sea on 19 February 2007 , and the group began providing combat air support for ground forces operating in Afghanistan as well as conducting Maritime Security Operations ( MSO ) in regional waters . Carrier air operations . The strike group joined the French carrier task group led by the nuclear carrier " Charles De Gaulle " . Both carrier groups operated together through 16 April 2007 . The group spent five months deployed to the U . S . Fifth Fleet area of responsibility . Carrier Air Wing 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 the International Security Assistance Force operating on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq . Admiral Quinn commended the efforts of Carrier Air Wing 9 : During the 2007 WESTPAC deployment , Airborne Early Warning Squadron 112 ( VAW - 112 ) celebrated its 40th anniversary on 18 April 2007 . Also , VFA - 154 completed its first deployment with the FA - 18F Super Hornet " ( pictured ) " . Also , on 15 June 2007 , the flight deck of USS " John C . Stennis " recorded its 100 , 000th arrested landing with the trap of an F / A - 18F Super Hornet from the Strike Fighter Squadron 154 ( VFA - 154 ) flown by Commander Clark Troyer and Lt . John Young following a close - air - support mission over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . Finally , Commander Muhammad Muzzafar F . Khan , the commanding officer of Sea Control Squadron 32 ( VS - 32 ) , completed his 1 , 000th carrier arrested landing aboard on 4 August 2007 while transiting the Western Pacific Ocean en route to participate in Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 . The carrier strike group commander , Rear Admiral Kevin M . Quinn , noted the accomplishments of the 2007 deployment to the Fifth Fleet are of responsibility ( AOR ) : Maritime security operations . DESRON - 21 guided - missile destroyers and were primarily responsible for carrying out MSO , Maritime Interdiction Operations , and Visit , Board , Search and Seizure operations for the group during its 2007 MED deployment . DESRON - 21 commodore Captain Michael Salvato noted : Expeditionary strike force operations . On 23 May 2007 , the carrier " Stennis " , along with eight other warships including the aircraft carrier and amphibious assault ship , passed through the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf " ( pictured ) " . US Navy officials said it was the largest such move of warships since 2003 . CARSTRKGRU 3 subsequently participated in Expeditionary Strike Force ( ESF ) training in the Fifth Fleet AOR while simultaneously providing close - air support to coalition ground forces in Iraq and Afghanistan . The ESF training brought together CARSTRKGRU 3 , the " Nimitz " Carrier Strike Group , and " Bonhomme Richard " Expeditionary Strike Group to test their ability to plan and conduct multi - task force operations across a broad spectrum of naval disciplines . Valiant Shield 2007 . Carrier Strike Group Three ( CARSTRKGRU 3 ) participated in Exercise Valiant Shield 2007 off the coast of Guam between 7 August – 14 , 2007 . The joint military exercise brought together more than 30 ships , including carrier strike groups led by the and ; 280 aircraft ; and more than 20 , 000 service members from the U . S . Navy , U . S . Air Force , U . S . Marine Corps , and U . S . Coast Guard . Valiant Shield 2007 tested the military ’ s ability to rapidly bring together joint forces in response to any regional contingency while demonstrating the United States ’ commitment to ensuring peace and stability throughout the Asia - Pacific region . CARSTRKGRU 3 commander , Rear Admiral Kevin M . Quinn , noted : Valiant Shield was the last operational portion of the group ' s 2007 deployment . The strike group sailed to the U . S . Third Fleet area of responsibility ( AOR ) and into Pearl Harbor on 20 August 2007 . Change of command . On 2 September 2007 , Rear Admiral M . Stewart O ’ Bryan assumed command of Carrier Strike Group Three , relieving Rear Admiral Kevin M . Quinn . Admiral Quinn ' s next assignment was as Commander , Naval Surface Forces Atlantic . A surface warfare officer ( SWO ) , Admiral O ’ Bryan commanded the destroyer and Task Group 55 . 6 in the Red Sea during Operation Iraqi Freedom , and prior to taking command of Carrier Strike Group Three , he served as the chief of staff of the U . S . Sixth Fleet . USS " John C . Stennis " maintenance cycle . On 28 September 2007 , the carrier " Stennis " began a six - month scheduled docking - planned incremental availability ( DPIA ) maintenance and yard overhaul period when the ship was shifted from its homeport pier at Naval Base Kitsap to a drydock at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility ( PSNS & IMF ) in Bremerton , Washington . 2008 operations . Pre - deployment training . The carrier " Stennis " was underway for its post - refit sea trials between 24 March – 28 , 2008 . The " Stennis " and Carrier Air Wing Nine ( CVW - 9 ) completed a two - month underway period on 30 June 2008 , which included their Tailored Ship ' s Training Availability ( TSTA ) and the Final Evaluation Problem ( FEP ) training exercises . The group successfully completed a Composite Unit Training Exercise ( COMPTUEX ) off the coast of southern California on 5 November 2008 . CARSTRKGRU 3 successfully completed its Joint Task Force Exercise ( JTFEX ) off the coast of Southern California on 16 November 2008 . Change of command . Rear Admiral Mark A . Vance ( " pictured " ) relieved Rear Admiral M . Stewart O ' Bryan as the Commander Carrier Strike Group Three ( COMCARSTKGRU 3 ) on 12 September 2008 . Admiral O ' Bryan ' s next assignment was as the director of Global Maritime Situational Awareness within the office of Chief of Naval Operations . A naval aviator , Admiral Vance commanded Carrier Air Wing Three during Operation Iraqi Freedom , and prior to becoming COMCARSTKGRU 3 , he served as the served as associate director , Assessment Division ( N81D ) within the office of the Chief of Naval Operations . 2009 operations . 2009 WESTPAC deployment . The nuclear - powered aircraft carrier depart its homeport of Bremerton , Washington , on 13 January 2009 , and departed Naval Air Station North Island on 17 January 2009 after embarking Carrier Air Wing Nine ( CVW - 9 ) . Carrier Air Wing Nine ( CVW - 9 ) flew more than 7250 sorties , consisting of approximately 12 , 747 flight hours with a sortie completion rate of 97 percent during it 2009 WESTPAC deployment . Also , Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 ( HSM - 71 ) , a new component to Carrier Air Wing Nine ( CVW - 9 ) , is the first squadron of its kind to embark on board a carrier as part of a carrier air wing " ( pictured ) " . The squadron flew more than 4 , 690 hours with a 95 percent sortie completion rate and earned the right to fly the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Pennant . The highlight for the squadron occurred during the undersea warfare exercise ( USWEX ) when HSM - 71 deployed multiple aircraft to simulate engagements with U . S . and Japanese submarines . The squadron kept three helicopters aloft throughout the entire four - day exercise for a total of 222 flight hours and conducted 28 simulated attacks on two U . S . and two Japanese submarines . Carrier Strike Group Three completed its 2009 deployment after six months at sea , returning to Bremerton , Washington , on 10 July 2009 . Force composition . Carrier Strike Group Three paid a scheduled port visit to Laem Chabang , Thailand , between 9 April – 13 , 2009 . Key Resolve / Foal Eagle 2009 . Carrier Strike Group Three participated in the Key Resolve / Foal Eagle 2009 ( KR / FE 09 ) exercises ( " pictured " ) which began on 28 February 2009 . Key Resolve / Foal Eagle was held in the aftermath of the sinking of the ROK corvette " Cheonan " and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island by North Korea . This annual combined Field Training Exercise ( FTX ) was conducted between the Republic of Korea ( ROK ) and United States armed forces under the auspices of Combined Forces Command ( CFC ) within the Korean Theater of Operations ( KTO ) . Approximately 12 , 800 U . S . and 200 , 000 South Korean troops participated in the exercise . Key Resolve was the computer - based simulation portion of the combined exercise , while Foal Eagle was the peninsula - wide training portion of the exercise . Key Resolve is scheduled to end 10 March , and Foal Eagle on 30 April . During the exercise , the aircraft carrier was overflown by two Russian Ilyushin Il - 38 maritime patrol aircraft on 16 March and two Tupolev Tu - 95 long - range bombers on 17 March . In both incidents , the intruders were intercepted and escorted by F / A - 18 Hornets until the Russian aircraft left the exercise area . Northern Edge 2009 . Carrier Strike Group Three participated in Operation Northern Edge ( " pictured " ) held between 15 – 26 June 2009 . Strike group units consisted of carrier " John C . Stennis " ( " pictured " ) , Carrier Air Wing Nine ( CVW - 9 ) and the guided - missile cruiser " Antietam " . Northern Edge was joint exercise provided real - world proficiency in detection and tracking of units at sea , in the air and on land and response to multiple crises , with approximately 9 , 000 U . S . active - duty and reserve - component military personnel participating . It was designed to be an air - centric exercise to train units in joint air operations tactics and command and control in a cost - effective and low - risk environment , with more than 200 aircraft from every branch of the U . S . military involved . Lt . General Dana T . Atkins , USAF , the commanding general of Alaskan Command and Eleventh Air Force , noted : Northern Edge operations was conducted within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex , which includes more than 60 , 000 square miles ( 155 , 399 . 29 square kilometers ) of air space , and the Gulf of Alaska , which encompasses 50 , 000 square miles ( 129 , 499 . 40 square kilometers ) of air space . On 22 June 2009 , during the Northern Edge exercise , Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin visited the " Stennis " . Change of command . On 25 September 2009 , Rear Admiral Joseph P . Aucoin relieved Rear Admiral Mark A . Vance as Commander , Carrier Strike Group Three ( COMCARSTKGRU 3 ) . Admiral Vance ' s next assignment was as Director , Programming Division ( N80 ) , office of the Chief of Naval Operations . A naval aviator , Admiral Aucoin had commanded Carrier Air Wing Five , and prior to becoming COMCARSTKGRU 3 , he served as the deputy director , Air Warfare ( N88B ) within the office of the Chief of Naval Operations . Sustainment training exercises . Carrier Strike Group Three ( COMSTRGRU 3 ) departed San Diego to begin a two - week sustainment exercise ( SUSTAINEX ) on 6 November 2009 , operating for the first time since the end of its last Western Pacific ( WESTPAC ) deployment . The strike group consisted of the carrier ; Carrier Air Wing Nine ; the guided - missile cruiser : and the guided - missile destroyers and . SUSTAINEX training maintained the strike group ' s operational proficiencies in order that the strike group can meet the U . S . Navy ' s need for available carrier presence in accordance with its Fleet Response Plan ( FRP ) .