SAN DIEGO - Sailors from four guided-missile destroyers in the Nimitz Strike Group Surface Action Group (SAG) will depart for a Western Pacific deployment Jan. 14.

San Diego-based USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS Stockdale (DDG 106), USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110), and the staff of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23 will join Everett, Wash.-based USS Shoup (DDG 86), already underway.

The SAG will deploy with approximately 1,200 Sailors and will focus on maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts, which help establish conditions for regional stability.

The Nimitz Strike Group is led by Rear Adm. Pete Gumataotao, Commander, Carrier Strike Group 11.

"We've had very rigorous training and certification to prepare us to execute any mission," Gumataotao said, "I'm very confident in Warrior Team 11 and especially DESRON 23 Sailors - they will do us proud."

In November 2012, the Navy announced a delay in deployment as the result of an emergent maintenance requirement for USS Nimitz (CVN 68). This delay does not affect the Nimitz Strike Group SAG deployment.