The U.S. Navy’s only forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) departed Naval Base Guam, June 27, following a scheduled four-day port visit to the island. Ronald Reagan arrived in Guam June 23, after participating in Valiant Shield 2022, a U.S.-only, biennial field training exercise (FTX) focused on integration of joint training in a multi-domain environment. During the port visit, Sailors from Ronald Reagan, the embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 staffs, participated in community relations projects such as volunteering at an animal shelter and thrift store. Reagan Sailors also joined Naval Base Guam Sailors to clean up Gov. Joseph Flores Memorial Beach Park, Jun 25.
“The core of our mission in the Indo-Pacific is maintaining and strengthening our partnerships and alliances in the region. Being able to properly execute a port visit is a vital part of that mission and something we have not been able to do for quite some time,” said Rear Adm. Michael Donnelly, commander, Task Force 70, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5.
“We are extremely grateful to the people of Guam for their incredible hospitality and support. While on liberty, the crew had an opportunity to thoroughly enjoy all the beautiful sites and a chance to participate in local community relations events,” said Capt. Fred Goldhammer, Ronald Reagan’s commanding officer.
Sailors were also able to experience the local scenery and attractions through tours offered by the ship’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) department. Hikes to the southern tip of the island, golf at Andersen Air Force Base, paddle boarding tours, and ATV tours were some of the opportunities provided by MWR. Units joining the strike group during the visit to Guam included the guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins (DDG 76) and guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam (CG 54). The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open 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.
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is a Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered supercarrier in the service of the United States Navy. The ninth ship of her class, she is named in honor of Ronald W. Reagan, President of the United States from 1981 to 1989. She was built at Newport News Shipbuilding in Newport News, Virginia, and was commissioned on 12 July 2003. Ronald Reagan is the first aircraft carrier and the first nuclear-powered warship, of any type, to be named in honor of a living former president. Unlike most of the other men honored by inclusion in this group, Reagan was not associated with the United States Navy, apart from his term as Commander-in-Chief, though one of his key initiatives in office was the 600-ship Navy program.
