NORFOLK, Va. — The USS George Washington left Hampton Roads for deployment Thursday morning, after undergoing more than five years of maintenance at Newport News shipyard.
Navy officials said the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier departed Naval Station Norfolk with Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10 to deploy first to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations, which includes Central America, South America and the Caribbean..
After that, the carrier will not return to Norfolk. Navy officials said it will instead transit South America and head to Yokosuka, Japan, where it will be permanently stationed.
The George Washington will relieve USS Ronald Reagan as the forward-deployed naval forces aircraft carrier during a "historic carrier swap at Naval Air Station North Island this summer," a Navy news release stated.
It wasn't an easy goodbye for families bidding the carrier and crew farewell at Naval Station Norfolk.
“I cried, but I’m so proud of him,” said Robin Parker, who stood at the pier to say goodbye to her son.
Parker said her son is expected to stay in Japan for a few years. She said she is going to stay in constant communication with him.
“I told him to at least try and call me every week,” she said. "Even if I have to write, even if I can try to go to Japan, I will."
Luckily, families are receiving help with this transition thanks to the ship’s ombudsman.
“We are able to work directly with the homeport change team, with personal property moving their goods as flights get booked. We’re assisting with picking up from the airport,” said Command Ombudsman Michelle Nation.
Navy officials said the George Washington has undergone pre-deployment certification and inspections, including flight deck certification and the Board of Inspection and Survey.
“Team Warfighter is ready to go,” said Capt. Tim Waits, commanding officer of George Washington. “Not only for the adventure that awaits in South America, but ready to serve as the nation’s forward-deployed naval forces carrier in Yokosuka.”
“In the past year, our command and our sailors have done some amazing things with getting our ship war-fighting ready,” said USS Washington Command Master Chief Randy Swanson.
The journey ahead is an exciting adventure for many sailors who have never been deployed before.
“I was real excited," CSSN Imani Murphy told 13News Now. "First, I was a little nervous because it’s Japan, but now I’m ready for the experience.”
The departure comes after years of work at Newport News Shipbuilding.
The nuclear-powered warship entered the shipyard for its mid-life refueling and complex overhaul (RCOH) in 2017. The job was supposed to be completed in 2021, but the Navy didn't get the ship back until May 2023.