NewsMilitary

Actions

USS Mitscher returns to Hampton Roads from 7.5 month deployment

Posted at 9:23 AM, May 02, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-02 13:01:08-04

NORFOLK, Va. - More than 300 locally-based sailors of the USS Mitscher returned home from deployment Thursday morning.

The guided-missile destroyer that's homeport is Naval Station Norfolk has been gone since September as part of a 7.5 month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf, according to the Navy.

Mitscher’s crew successfully completed all of their assigned missions, the Navy said. They completed layered defense of U.S. assets operating in U.S. 5th Fleet, ballistic missile defense, maritime security operations and theater security cooperation events.

While deployed, Mitscher’s crew also conducted multiple exercises with multinational allies including training with Italian and French counterparts in the Mediterranean Sea during Italian-led Exercise Mare Aperto and performing a passing exercise with the Egyptian Navy in the Red Sea, according to the Navy.

“I could not be more proud of Mitscher’s Sailors, chiefs, and officers during this deployment,” said Cmdr. Ian Scaliatine, commanding officer of the Mitscher. “The Mitscher team responded well in every situation and overcame every challenge with the utmost professionalism and absolute dedication.”

Before September 2018, the Mitscher last deployed was in late 2014.

For more local and national military stories, click here.