Commander, Naval Air Forces awarded the 2017 Battle Efficiency "E" for West Coast-based aircraft carriers to the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), March 10.

The Battle "E" is an annual award to recognize the ships and crews that display the highest level of sustained proficiency and readiness to perform in an operational environment.

"Earning the Battle 'E' is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the USS Theodore Roosevelt crew," said Capt. Carlos Sardiello, commanding officer. "In every evaluation, in every milestone leading up to deployment, the crew exceeded expectations and performed superbly."

Achieving the Battle "E" requires outstanding performance during evaluation of a multitude of operational standards based on individual and community shipboard efforts.

"The graded events for the Battle 'E' award are the foundation of a well-trained, proficient, high-performing crew," said USS Theodore Roosevelt Executive Officer Capt. Fred Goldhammer. "Whether in damage control drills, maintenance, or flight operations, success in all areas led to success on deployment and ultimately mission accomplishment."

Recipients of the Battle "E" award are decided through departmental awards, marking excellence within the ship's various departments. Theodore Roosevelt earned all 15 departmental awards, to include excellence in supply, deck, engineering, and many others.

"This recognition for the crew came during a demanding time of deployment, and really energized the crew to sprint to the finish," said Sardiello. "Through renewed emphasis on safety, ownership, and supervision, we can repeat this performance level to complete our deployment successfully."

Theodore Roosevelt, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, is currently underway with USS Bunker Hill (CG 52), USS Halsey (DDG 97), USS Sampson (DDG 102), and USS Preble (DDG 88), for a scheduled deployment to U.S. 7th and 5th Fleets. The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group deployment is an example of the U.S. Navy's routine presence in waters around the globe, displaying commitment to stability, regional cooperation and economic prosperity for all nations.

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