THE TENSION: USS Theodore Roosevelt Sets Sail with French Navy

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 18, 2008) A French E-2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft, assigned to the 4th Squadron, lands during a historic joint French and American collaborated carrier qualification aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is participating in Joint Task Force Exercise "Operation Brimstone" off the Atlantic coast until the end of July. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jonathan Snyder.)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (July 19, 2008) A French F-2 Rafale fighter lands aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) during combined French and American carrier qualifications. This event marks the first integrated U.S. and French carrier qualifications aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier. The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group is participating in Joint Task Force Exercise "Operation Brimstone" off the Atlantic coast until the end of July. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Matthew DeWitt.)

Focus on Defense:

USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT, At sea, July 24, 2008 -- USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) departed Naval Station Norfolk July 18 for a historic collaboration between the U.S. and French navies.

French E2C Hawkeye early warning aircraft assigned to the 4th Squadron began flight operations with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 aboard Roosevelt, marking the first integrated U.S. and French carrier qualifications aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier. French Rafale fighter aircraft assigned to the 12th Squadron also joined.

"Operations with our friends and allies are the cornerstone of the U.S. Navy's current maritime strategy," said Capt. Ladd Wheeler, Roosevelt's commanding officer. "These combined operations will certainly pay dividends into the future as our navies continue to work together to increase global security."

(Story by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman John Suits, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs.)