When the USS George Washington pushes off the Norfolk pier Thursday, it will deploy with a new rest and recreation den installed on board as part of a servicewide effort to improve sailor quality of life.
Three rooms just off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier allow sailors to take a break from ship life in a dimly lit social environment with games and TVs similar to an alcohol-free sports bar. Nestled in the heart of the space, a neon blue sign glows scripted letters: “The GW.”
The Washington is one of four aircraft carriers to be outfitted with a USO Afloat Center, including East Coast-based ships USS George H.W. Bush and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and Japan-based USS Ronald Reagan. But the Washington's den is the first of its kind, officials said, as it is the only one in the Navy fleet to have finishing touches, including flooring and painted walls, to give an off-the-ship vibe.
“It was about reaching a goal set by leadership to leave the ship better than they found it,” said Cissy Fish, regional operations and development manager for USO.
The center opened Feb. 5 ahead of the Washington's first deployment in nearly a decade and before its planned homeport shift from Naval Station Norfolk to Yokosuka, Japan. The Washington leaves Thursday for South America, where it will circumnavigate the continent over the next several months, officials said. The carrier will then stop in San Diego before transiting to Japan,…
