The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), the pride of the U.S. Navy's newest class of carriers, has just been honored with the 2024 Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award. This is a top honor recognizing outstanding combat readiness and operational capability throughout the fleet.
The official announcement was made on June 26, 2025, just a few weeks after the ship departed Naval Station Norfolk to begin a scheduled deployment. This award is presented annually to one ship from the Atlantic Fleet and one from the Pacific Fleet with the best performance in the Navy's battle efficiency competitions.
Captain David Skarosi, the Ford-class carrier's commanding officer, stated: "The sailors aboard USS Gerald R. Ford represent our nation's most well-trained warfighters. I am grateful every day for the honor of commanding such an inspiring crew, and I am proud of their hard work and dedication, which are deserving of this award."
In the official announcement, Vice Admiral Michael E. Boyle, Director of the Navy Staff, praised the crew for their "exemplary dedication to operational effectiveness and combat readiness." Along with this honor comes a modest grant to support the ship's Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) programs, directly benefiting the crew's quality of life.
This achievement extends an impressive series of awards that the Gerald R. Ford has earned over the past two years, including two Battle "E" Efficiency Awards, two Chief of Naval Operations "S" Aviation Safety Awards, the 2023 Rear Admiral James "Jig Dog" Ramage Award (Top Half) along with Carrier Air Wing 8, and the 2023 Battenberg Cup, honoring the top ship in the entire U.S. Fleet.
The Marjorie Sterrett Award has a unique history, originating from World War I. The fund was established by the New York Tribune Association after receiving a letter from a 13-year-old girl in 1916, who pledged her weekly one-cent allowance to support the construction of a U.S. battleship. Today, the fund continues to honor the outstanding readiness and performance of naval vessels.
Currently, the USS Gerald R. Ford is deployed in the Atlantic Ocean with Carrier Strike Group 12, serving as a forward presence for U.S. naval power. This strike group provides multi-domain capabilities for combatant commanders and the President, enhancing deterrence, ensuring regional security, and demonstrating continuous at-sea operations.
This prestigious award once again underscores the operational value and indispensable role of the U.S. Navy's most advanced class of aircraft carriers as it becomes increasingly integrated into routine global deployments.
Nguyen Anh.
