Subscribe
An aircraft carrier docks at a pier with a tree-covered ridge to the left and blue sky and the horizon in the background.

The aircraft carrier USS George Washington arrived in Guam for a scheduled port visit on Aug. 17, 2025. (Michelle Tucker/U.S. Navy)

The USS George Washington and its strike group recently pulled into Guam for a much-needed break after several weeks of training, according to the Navy.

The aircraft carrier, amid its summer deployment, steamed into Apra Harbor on Sunday alongside the guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls for a scheduled port call, according to a news release from the carrier that day. The ships will resupply and give their crews a chance to explore the island.

“The George Washington Strike Group’s arrival in Guam emphasizes the key role that Guam plays in the Western Pacific,” Capt. Tim Waits, the carrier’s skipper, said in the release. “Our visit also provides a great opportunity for our Sailors to engage in the local community and provides an opportunity for some brief but well-deserved liberty.”

Since November, the George Washington, core of the carrier strike group, has been homeported with the 7th Fleet at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan.

Another ship in its strike group, the guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup, pulled into Saipan around the same time.

The Shoup stopped there for variety of reasons, including “easing logistical demands, improving security, and broadening engagement across the region,” carrier spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Mark Langford told Stars and Stripes by email Monday.

He declined to specify how long the ships will remain in port, citing operational security concerns.

“This port visit allows time for the crew to resupply, rest and recharge after several exercises with allies and partners,” he wrote.

The stop provides an opportunity for exploration of the island and for some crew members to see family and friends, Langford said.

Sailors will have the chance to participate in a variety of activities, including a fishing charter, waterfall hike, kayaking and a sunset cruise; planned community outreach events include projects with local schools and youth organizations, sports activities, science projects and a beach cleanup, Langford said.

The strike group kicked off its summer deployment on June 10, about six months after the George Washington relocated to Japan.

The carrier was based at Yokosuka from 2008 to 2015 before returning to the United States for midlife nuclear refueling and maintenance. The USS Ronald Reagan took its place until returning to the U.S. for its own maintenance in May 2024.

In the months since its departure, the strike group has kept busy with training, flight operations and joint exercises.

Earlier this month, the George Washington participated in a multi-carrier drill in the northern Philippine Sea alongside the British aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales and the Japanese flat top JS Kaga. The Prince of Wales was on a port visit to Yokosuka and was docked at the George Washington’s berth there as of Tuesday.

The amphibious assault ship USS America also participated in the carrier drills, according to an Aug. 12 news release from the British navy.

During the George Washington’s deployment, an aviation boatswain’s mate was lost in an assumed overboard incident off the coast of Australia.

Joe Antonio Rivera Lynch IV, 19, of Florida, was last seen aboard the carrier on July 28. On July 30, the Navy called off a 45-hour search-and-rescue operation that scoured approximately 2,200 square miles, with Lynch assumed lost at sea.

author picture
Alex Wilson covers the U.S. Navy and other services from Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan. Originally from Knoxville, Tenn., he holds a journalism degree from the University of North Florida. He previously covered crime and the military in Key West, Fla., and business in Jacksonville, Fla.

Sign Up for Daily Headlines

Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets from around the world.

Sign Up Now