YOKOSUKA, Japan -- The forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), departed for sea trials, May 11, after successfully completing a two-day fast cruise.

The week-long sea trials are designed to test the ship's systems and equipment after a four-month selected restricted availability involving combined maintenance teams from the ship, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and U.S. Naval Ship Repair Facility and Japan Regional Maintenance Center.

"This is what we have been working towards for these last few months," said Capt. Buzz Donnelly, Ronald Reagan's commanding officer. "Everyone involved has made it possible to get us poised for success for our upcoming patrols. I'm proud of the crew and we're ready to showcase our capability."

During sea trials, Ronald Reagan's crew will participate major evaluations, including the execution of high-speed turns, sea and anchor evolutions, precision anchoring trials, testing of countermeasure wash-down and aqueous film forming foam systems and testing of the ship's self-defense weapons systems.

"This is all about doing what we've been trained to do," said Quartermaster 3rd Class Miguel Medrano, from Dallas, one of three qualified master helmsmen aboard Ronald Reagan. "We have to make sure the ship drives likes it's supposed to and that all our watch teams, from engineering to the bridge, are ready to go for a full patrol."

Ronald Reagan, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, provides a combat-ready force that protects and defends the collective maritime interests of its allies and partners in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.