Ships from the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (Theodore Roosevelt CSG), the America Expeditionary Strike Group (America ESG) and America ESG, and the U.S. 7th Fleet command ship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), transit the Philippine Sea in formation during a photo exercise March 24, 2020. Operating as an Expeditionary Strike Force, the Navy-Marine Corps team integrates the combat power of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group with the flexible capability of the America Expeditionary Strike Group and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to provide the fleet commander with a capable, credible combat force that can be deployed anywhere in the world.
The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, America Expeditionary Strike Group and 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) conducted expeditionary strike force operations March 15-18. The training, the second that the two strike groups have conducted since February, put the full spectrum of the Navy-Marine Corps team on display, demonstrating their ability to effectively plan and conduct operations across the broad, dynamic spectrum of naval disciplines. The Expeditionary Strike Force increases both strike groups’ ability to respond to threats, deter hostilities and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region, giving military decision makers a flexible, credible force anywhere at any time.
Expeditionary strike force training tests the abilities of the participating ships, aircraft and personnel, allowing them to hone their maritime skills in a complex environment. Consistent and continuous training allows the U.S. 7th Fleet to maintain its readiness to accomplish a diverse subset of mission across the operational battle space. The training, conducted while both strike groups were in the South China Sea, included basic flight maneuvers, air defense, surface-support mission exercises and various other integrated and unit-level scenarios. One of those was a visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) exercise aboard Bunker Hill by U.S. Marines from the 31st MEU.
TRSG consists of Carrier Strike Group 9, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, Bunker Hill, Destroyer Squadron 23, and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers from Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23. USS America (LHD 6) is the flagship of the America Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG), which includes Commander Amphibious Squadron 11, San Antonio-class dock landing ship USS Green Bay (LPD 20), Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42), and the 31st MEU. The Theodore Roosevelt CSG and America ESG are forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. U.S. 7th Fleet is the largest numbered fleet in the world, and with the help of 35 other maritime-nation allies and partners, the U.S. Navy has operated in the Indo-Pacific region for more than 75 years, providing credible, ready forces to help preserve peace and prevent conflict.
