{"id":19121,"date":"2019-01-25T20:19:02","date_gmt":"2019-01-25T20:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/01\/25\/destroyer-mcfaul-leaves-norfolk-bound-for-mayport-and-beyond\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:58:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:58:29","slug":"destroyer-mcfaul-leaves-norfolk-bound-for-mayport-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/01\/25\/destroyer-mcfaul-leaves-norfolk-bound-for-mayport-and-beyond\/","title":{"rendered":"Destroyer McFaul leaves Norfolk, bound for Mayport and beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NORFOLK \u2014 The guided-missile destroyer McFaul <\/a>pulled out of Naval Station Norfolk shortly after dawn Friday for what Navy leaders officially say is merely a \u201cregularly-scheduled deployment to conduct maritime security operations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the warship will make a small detour before heading off on a tour slated to last seven months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, the McFaul must sail south to Naval Station Mayport in Florida to conduct a gunnery exercise, her final evaluation before departing overseas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re going to head south when you get underway and do that last basic phase event, the naval surface fire support event and then head east on deployment,\u201d Rear Adm. John F. \u201cOscar\u201d Meier, the commander of Carrier Strike Group 10<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meier told the crew over the vessel\u2019s loudspeaker prior to their departure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calling McFaul\u2019s crew \u201cthe absolute best\u201d because they are \u201cextremely well-led, well-trained and well-manned,\u201d Meier said he wished he could go with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou are going to have a great, great deployment. That\u2019s all,\u201d Meier said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n