After a grueling six-year maintenance overhaul marred by concerning conditions and a series of crew suicides, the USS George Washington has departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, bound for its new station in Yokosuka, Japan.

The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier marks its return to operational status with a journey that includes exercises in South America under the banner of Southern Seas 2024.

The ship’s overhaul, which started in 2017 at Newport News Shipbuilding, faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other priorities that extended a process normally taking four years.

Amid these delays, the crew endured challenging living conditions and a cluster of suicides that brought to light the stark realities of life during long-term maintenance.

“Team Warfighter is ready to go,” Captain Tim Waits, commanding officer of the George Washington, expressed with assurance. The vessel’s readiness echoes a sentiment of resilience as the carrier undertakes its first deployment in nearly a decade, set to replace the USS Ronald Reagan.

The crew’s welfare during the shipyard stay has been a central concern, as a troubling number of suicides shook the Navy.

Commander Dawn Stankus, a spokesperson for Naval Air Force Atlantic, acknowledged the inherent challenges of shipyard life, emphasizing that “you don’t necessarily get to do what you signed up to do in the military.”

The tragic suicides triggered extensive investigations, revealing a landscape of uninhabitable living conditions, lack of training in suicide prevention programs, and a high level of distrust in military medicine. Findings indicated leadership oversights and the pressing need for mental health support.

In response to these findings, the Navy is doubling down on measures to safeguard the mental well-being of sailors. Mental health resources aboard the Washington have since been bolstered, with Kellylynn Zuni, the GW’s clinical psychologist, citing a doubled permanent mental health staff on the ship and the creation of Special Psychiatric Rapid Intervention Teams (SPRINT) for emergency care.

As the GW embarks on its new chapter, a state-of-the-art rest and recreation area has been unveiled, designed to offer sailors a respite with amenities such as a library, gaming, and communication tools to stay in touch with family. These initiatives are part of a broader effort to mitigate stressors and improve the overall quality of life and work for the crew.

The ship’s capacity to project power is immense, housing over 6,000 crewmembers and capable of carrying up to 90 aircraft, including F-35 Lightning and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets.

It’s an armed seagoing airbase, also equipped with a 20mm radar-guided air-defense gun, a Sea Sparrow surface-to-air missile launcher, and two RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile launchers.

Reflecting on the past trials and the path forward, Rear Admiral John Meier, formerly the commander of Naval Air Force Atlantic, observed, “It is safe to say that generations of Navy leaders had become accustomed to the reduced quality of life in the shipyard, and accepted the status quo as par for the course for shipyard life.”

The GW’s return to active duty is met with hope, as the carrier’s challenging shipyard tenure comes to a close. Its deployment is not just a strategic move in U.S. naval operations but also a testament to the indomitable spirit of its crew, who have withstood years of hardship.

As the George Washington sails toward Yokosuka, the ship and its crew look to a horizon that promises both operational readiness and a renewed commitment to the well-being of its sailors.

Relevant articles:
– See aboard USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier with a checkered recent history, Business Insider
– USS George Washington Heads to Japan, Ending Troubled Shipyard Stay That Included String of Suicides, Military.com
– USS George Washington Heads to Japan, Ending Troubled Shipyard Stay That Included String of Suicides, Military.com
– After a series of suicides, the USS George Washington returns to sea with more mental healthcare, The American Homefront Project