151217-N-KG407-143 NORFOLK, VA (Dec. 17, 2015) Avilgail

151217-N-KG407-143 NORFOLK, VA (Dec. 17, 2015) Avilgail Schafert holds her son as they wait for their Sailor, Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Ryan Schafert, while the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) arrives at her new homeport of Naval Station Norfolk. Washington arrives at Naval Station Norfolk as part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9 following her forward deployment in Japan. Washington's arrival to Norfolk is part of a three-carrier swap with USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). After serving seven years as the U.S. Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, Japan, George Washington proceeded to San Diego for a 10-day crew swap turnover with Ronald Reagan in August 2015. Washington then sailed around South America, participating in Southern Seas 2015 and UNITAS 2015. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kameren Guy Hodnett/Released)