The US Navy’s George H.W. Bush (GHWB) Carrier Strike Group has successfully completed its first Composite Training Unit Exercise and Joint Task Force Exercise.

The joint exercises simulated the integration of the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) and other Strike Group ships into a joint task force and tested the ship’s ability to operate effectively with other military forces.

The GHWB Strike Group assets during the exercise also included the USS Mitscher, USS Gettysburg, USS Truxtun, USS Anzio, USS Monterey and the squadrons of Carrier Air Wing 8.

The Spanish frigate ESPS Almirante Juan de Borbón (F-102) and its crew of 240 also took part in pre-deployment exercises.

The Strike Group is expected to depart on its initial combat deployment in the spring of 2011.