Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG) departed for a regularly scheduled deployment, June 1.

The strike group, led by aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), is scheduled to conduct operations in the U.S. Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.

The deployment is part of an ongoing rotation of U.S. forces supporting maritime security operations in international waters around the globe.

"I have personally done this for 30 years and I have never seen a CSG more prepared or more motivated than the Eisenhower Strike Group," said Rear Adm. Jesse Wilson, commander, Ike CSG.

Working with allied and partner maritime forces, Ike CSG units will focus heavily on maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts, which help establish conditions for regional stability.

"We are trained and ready to do a whole host of naval and military operations that span the spectrum of warfare -- anything from the high-end fight all the way down to training with our partners in theater security cooperation and humanitarian assistance/disaster response -- but our bread and butter is maritime security operations," Wilson said.

The seven ships and nine aircraft squadrons of Ike CSG consist of approximately 7,100 Sailors who have spent the last six months conducting intensive training and certification exercises to establish a safe, cohesive organization capable of performing a wide variety of missions across the globe.

"We are ready for the mission," Wilson said. "Two days ago our country celebrated Memorial Day and today the Eisenhower Strike Group carries on that legacy."

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group consists of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Monterey (CG 61), and guided-missile destroyers USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), USS Mason (DDG 87) and USS Nitze (DDG 94).

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