The guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) departed San Diego for a scheduled seven-month deployment, Oct. 7.

Operating forward, Bunker Hill will serve as the Integrated Air and Missile Warfare Commander of the Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG), prepared to control the sea and project power where and when the nation needs.

"The U.S. Navy carrier strike group is the most versatile, capable force at sea," said Rear Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, Carrier Strike Group 9. "After nearly a year of training and integration exercises, the entire team is ready as a warfighting force and ready to carry out the nation's tasking."

Bunker Hill is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, commissioned in September 1986. The ship's last deployment concluded in June 2015. In August, Bunker Hill completed a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), the final work-up phase prior to deployment. COMPTUEX evaluated Bunker Hill's deployment readiness by testing command and control functions, crew safety evolutions, search and rescue operations, and damage control proficiency, ultimately certifying the TRCSG for deployment.

"We have trained hard as a team over the last year to answer the call," said Capt. Joe Cahill, the commanding officer of Bunker Hill. "Today we move West in support of our Nation's needs."

Bunker Hill, with the staff of Destroyer Squadron 23 and the squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 17 (CVW 17) aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), will deploy alongside the Sailors of guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97), USS Preble (DDG 88), and USS Sampson (DDG 102).

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