Carrier Strike Group Three 2004–2009 operations included a world cruise, three western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployments and a change-over of its flagship. During this period, CARSTRGRU-3 provided combat operational support for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF-A) as well as participated such major exercises as Valiant Shield 2007, Key Resolve/Foal Eagle 2009, and Northern Edge 2009. The strike group's 2005 WESTPAC deployment marked the final overseas mission for Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33), the Screwbirds. Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 71 (HSM-71), a new component to Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9), became the first squadron of its kind to embark on board a carrier as part of a carrier air wing when it operated with Carrier Strike Group Three during its 2009 WESTPAC deployment
Carrier Strike Group Three (CSG-3 or CARSTRGRU-3) is one of six U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. CARSTRGRU-3 is currently based at Naval Base Kitsap, Washington, and it typically deploys to the U.S. Seventh Fleet operating in the Western Pacific (WESTPAC) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf. The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier became the current flagship for Carrier Strike Group Three, replacing the which began its 36-month mid-life refueling and complex overhaul in 2005.
2004 operations
Change of command
On 26 June 2004, Rear Admiral Bruce W. Clingan (pictured) relieved Rear Admiral Evan M. Chanik, Jr., as Commander Carrier Group Three (ComCarGru 3). During his tenure as ComCarGru 3, Chanik led the Carl Vinson strike group which was the first to undergo the new, innovative Inter-Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC), which greatly compressed the training required for oversea deployment. Admiral Chanik's next assignment was as director, Programming Division on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. A naval aviator, Admiral Clingan served as the commanding officer of U.S. Sixth Fleet flagship and the aircraft carrier , and prior to taking command of Carrier Group Three, he served as the deputy director of Operations, U.S. Central Command, during Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan (OEF-A) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
Pre-deployment training
In September 2004, Carrier Group Three (CarGru 3) departed for its 22-day Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of Southern California. COMPUTEX was an intermediate-level, two-phase strike group training exercise that was a critical step toward the final certification to deploy overseas for a carrier strike group. Phase I provided training for warfare commanders and the rest of the strike group in operational tasking and decision-making. Phase II measured the ability of the strike group to act as a coordinated, combat-ready force, and it was intended to closely resemble real-life conflict. On 1 October 2004, Carrier Group Three was redesignated as Carrier Strike Group Three (CARSTRKGRU 3). A day later, on 2 October 2004, the newly renamed Carrier Strike Group Three completed its COMPTUEX.
2005 World Cruise
On 17 January 2005, Carl Vinson departed Bremerton, Washington, with CVW-9 embarked for a six-month deployment, which included several months in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 30 January 2005, COMCARSTKGRU 3 departed San Diego for its around the world voyage following the completion of Joint Task Force Exercise 05-2 (FTFE 05-2) under the command of Rear Admiral Bruce W. Clingan. This overseas deployment also marked the final overseas mission for the fast combat support ship and Sea Control Squadron 33 (VS-33), the Screwbirds. The carrier strike group paid a port visit to Dubai.
On 5 May 2005, during a visit to strike group flagship Vinson on 5 May 2005, United States Central Command commander General John Abizaid paid tribute to the personnel of Carrier Strike Group Three: "Whenever I see young Marines and young Sailors at work where they are doing what their country’s asking them to do in a hard place, I can only come away thankful and impressed." Carrier Strike Group Three completed its 2005 western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment and world cruise at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia on 31 July 2005.