About Us

Commander, Task Force SEVEN ZERO (CTF 70) has operational control of the GEORGE WASHINGTON Carrier Strike Group, and all independently deployed cruisers and destroyers that deploy or transit through the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

The CTF 70 commander also serves as the commander for Carrier Strike Group FIVE (CSG 5) and Carrier Air Wing FIVE (CVW 5), and is embarked on the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73).

CSG 5 includes the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS ROBERT SMALLS (CG 62) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS SHOUP (DDG 86). Destroyer Squadron FIFTEEN (CDS 15) serves as the Sea Combat Commander and is also responsible for the ten permanently assigned Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS BENFOLD (DDG 65), USS MILIUS (DDG 69), USS HIGGINS (DDG 76), USS HOWARD (DDG 85), USS MCCAMPBELL (DDG 85), USS PREBLE (DDG 88), USS DEWEY (DDG 105), USS JOHN FINN (DDG 113), USS RALPH JOHNSON (DDG 114), and USS RAFAEL PERALTA (DDG 115).

GEORGE WASHINGTON and the 12 surface combatant ships are forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, while CVW 5 operates forward-deployed from Atsugi and Iwakuni, Japan, when not embarked on the carrier. Together, these units form the U.S. Navy's only continuously forward-deployed (and largest) carrier strike group, and are critical combat elements of the U.S. 7th Fleet.
 

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About Forward Deployed Naval Forces

 

The United States of America is a nation with global interests. We conduct trade with other nations on an unmatched scale as the U.S. imports and exports hundreds of billions of dollars per year in goods and services. Perhaps due to our history as a nation of immigrants, we desire to foster democracy around the world. Those and other interests cannot be acted upon if we do not maintain a strong presence well forward of our borders.

For a century and a half, the U.S. Navy has maintained a presence in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean to promote peace, regional cooperation and stability. That forward presence is maintained by the Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) of the Navy-Marine Corps team. The concept of forward presence in the U.S. Navy has existed since 1907, when President Roosevelt's Great White Fleet of 16 battleships sailed over 40,000 miles, making twenty port calls on six continents. Today, FDNF operate out of bases and ports around the world, including the Arabian Gulf, Mediterranean, and the Western Pacific, home to the FIFTH, SIXTH, and SEVENTH Fleets, respectively.

Our presence in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region is more important than ever. U.S. naval forces help encourage dialogue, promote growth and ensure the free flow of trade, of which the oceans have increased importance. The Indo-Asia-Pacific region is one of the most dynamic areas of our rapidly-changing world, and our fleet must be maintained at a high state of operational, materiel and personnel readiness in order to be flexible and responsive to address a crisis situation requiring military support.

Forces continuously stationed forward (as FDNF forces are) provide increased operational responsiveness for a crisis, strengthening partnerships with our treaty bound allies and help shape the operational environment during steady state operations. These units are true "force multipliers" for the Pacific Fleet and 7th Fleet Commanders.