NORFOLK (NNS) ­ The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group (GHWB CSG) departed for its maiden deployment May 11.

The strike group, led by the Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), and its nearly 6,000 Sailors; is scheduled to conduct operations in the U.S. Navy’s 6th and 5th 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.

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

“The George H.W. Bush Strike Group is ready to go,” said Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, commander of GHWB CSG. “These Sailors have worked extremely hard over the last year and we are fully prepared to execute any and all tasking in support of the nation’s maritime strategy.”

The five ships and eight aircraft squadrons of GHWB CSG consist of approximately 6,000 Sailors who have spent the last year conducting intensive training and certification exercises to establish a safe, cohesive organization capable of performing a wide variety of missions across the globe.

The George H.W. Bush Strike Group consists of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22 staff, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), guided-missile cruisers USS Gettysburg (CG 64) and USS Anzio (CG 68), and guided-missile destroyers USS Truxtun (DDG 103) and USS Mitscher (DDG 57).

For news regarding GHWB CSG’s deployment, log onto www.navy.mil/local/cvn77, or visit the ship’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/USSGeorgeHWBush.