Subscribe
Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John M. Richardson awarded the Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), Jan. 3.
George Washington received the award for superb performance during a scheduled CNO Selected Restricted Availability and an eight-month deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific and Southern Sea regions while simultaneously executing an unprecedented three carrier crew swap, encompassing the transfer of 6,000 Sailors in three homeports.
All Sailors assigned to George Washington during the date range Jan. 1, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2015 are now eligible to wear the MUC ribbon—this includes many former George Washington Sailors who are now assigned to the other two carriers involved in the crew swap, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76).
The award recognized Sailors from the three crews for meritorious service from January 2015 to December 2015 and commended them for displaying mission versatility and expertise.
“I’m very proud of the accomplishments made by the crews of USS George
Washington, USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Ronald Reagan,” said Capt.
Timothy Kuehhas, George Washington’s commanding officer. “They successfully executed an unprecedented three hull crew swap, and each crewmember took ownership of George Washington during their time aboard, making George Washington a better ship after each swap.”
Kuehhas said the award is also a reflection of the three crews’ willingness to sacrifice to achieve success.
“The families of each crewmember deserve special recognition in the acceptance of this award,” said Kuehhas. “The support of our families and loved ones was absolutely crucial to our success.”
While completing their eight-month deployment, George Washington’s crew enhanced diplomatic relations throughout Seventh, Third and Fourth Fleets while supporting Exercises Talisman, Sabre, Blue Skies V, UNITAS Pacific, Southern Scissors, and UNITAS Atlantic with Australian, Japanese, Peruvian, Chilean, and Brazilian forces, as well as military forces from 16 other nations.
Sailors aboard George Washington launched and recovered 10,785 aircraft, steamed 52,267 nautical miles, and conducted 25 restricted transits, 8 precision anchorages, and 33 replenishments-at-sea, without mishap.
“By their truly distinctive accomplishments, unrelenting perseverance, and unfailing devotion to duty, the officers and enlisted personnel of USS George Washington (CVN 73) reflected credit upon themselves and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Navy,” stated Richardson in the award citation.
Former Secretary of the Navy John T. McNaughton established the MUC in 1967 to recognize units which display valorous or meritorious achievement. The Navy MUC is awarded to any unit of the Navy or Marine Corps that has distinguished itself, under combat or non-combat conditions, by either valorous or meritorious achievement, which renders the unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar service.
George Washington is homeported in Norfolk and preparing to move to Newport News, Virginia, for the ship’s refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) maintenance.
Join the conversation with GW online at www.facebook.com/USSGW and www.twitter.com/GW_CVN73. For more news from USS George Washington, visit www. Navy.mil/local/cvn73/.
| Date Taken: | 02.10.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.30.2017 17:13 |
| Story ID: | 260953 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 159 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, GW Earns Meritorious Unit Commendation, by Julie N. Vujevich, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
