San Diego, Calif. – The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) is scheduled to leave Naval Air Station North Island on Monday and head to Japan to serve with the Navy’s forward deployed forces in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
The Ronald Reagan’s departure from San Diego is part of a three-carrier swap involving the Reagan, the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and the USS George Washington (CVN 73.)
The George Washington arrived in San Diego from Japan on August 10th and completed a 10-day crew and equipment swap with the Reagan.
The Washington will now head to Norfolk for an overhaul. The Roosevelt, which is currently deployed, left Norfolk in March and will return from deployment to San Diego to take the place of the Reagan.
Nearly two-thirds of the Washington’s crew members who left from Japan on the ship in May will now return to Japan as members of the Reagan crew. The remaining crew members will stay with their original ship.
Approximately 1,200 of the Reagan’s crew have been dubbed “The Three Presidents Crew” because they will be serving aboard all three carriers at various points during the swap.
The crew began on the Reagan in San Diego and will now move to the Washington for its trip around South America to Norfolk. The crew will then fly back to San Diego to crew the Roosevelt when it arrives.
RELATED:
USS George Washington arrives in San Diego to begin three-hull swap with USS Ronald Reagan
USS George Washington set to arrive in San Diego as three-carrier swap continues
Finally! USS Theodore Roosevelt deploys after tiny sea creatures delay departure
Navy aircraft carrier crew ‘The Three Presidents’ to make history with three-hull swap
