USS Theodore Roosevelt Completes Middle East Deployment, Returns to San Diego

The USS Theodore Roosevelt is back in San Diego after a nine-month deployment that included operations in the West Pacific and Middle East, reflecting the flexibility of U.S. naval forces.

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After nine months at sea, the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) returned to San Diego on Tuesday, concluding a deployment that spanned the West Pacific and the Middle East. Initially scheduled for operations in the Pacific, the carrier was diverted to the Middle East in July due to rising tensions between Israel and Iran. Typically, such missions are handled by East Coast carriers, but Theodore Roosevelt stepped in after the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) completed an extended deployment in the region.

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Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 9, highlighted the adaptability of the strike group, noting their ability to quickly shift from the West Pacific to the Middle East. The deployment saw the strike group, which includes Carrier Air Wing 11, and destroyers like the Russell and Halsey, operating alongside the USS Abraham Lincoln. 

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During their time at sea, sailors flew over 9,000 sorties, logged 21,000 flight hours, and covered more than 71,000 nautical miles. The group also conducted 28 at-sea resupplies and made port calls in several locations, including Bahrain, Diego Garcia, and Singapore.

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Capt. Brian Schrum, the ship's commanding officer, praised the crew's dedication and mission focus and expressed pride in their work. The USS Theodore Roosevelt has been one of the Navy's most active carriers, continuing to demonstrate the strength and reach of U.S. naval power across multiple regions.

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