AFTER 11 months at sea aboard one of the world’s largest aircraft carriers, Jamaican-born United States (US) Navy officer Stefano Crowl is preparing for what he describes as a historic homecoming.

When the Nimitz-class USS Nimitz called at the port of Kingston on Monday, Crowl was not just returning as a member of the ship’s crew, he was coming home aboard the first US aircraft carrier to ever visit Jamaica.

“It’s exciting. It’s almost a surreal moment coming back,” said Crowl. “And it’s historic at the same time. First carrier to come in. It’s only fitting that we have Jamaicans on-board to represent coming back home.”

Crowl, an aircraft maintenance officer assigned to the carrier’s Quality Assurance Department, is among 4,000 sailors, and about 19 Jamaican-Americans aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN68), which is now in its 11th iteration of the Southern Seas operation.

Its deployment was announced in March by US Naval Forces Southern Command and it will remain in Jamaica from June 1 to June 5 serving as the final stop in a multinational goodwill mission that has taken the carrier throughout South America and the Caribbean.

According to the US Embassy, the visit underscores the depth of US-Jamaica relations and the importance the United States places on its enduring partnership with Jamaica.

Born and raised in Mountain View, Kingston, Crowl left Jamaica years ago but still maintains strong ties to the island, telling journalists aboard the warship about his family members that continue to reside here.

He also believes that the ship’s visit represents the signs of a strong bond between both countries, as well as an opportunity to deepen those ties.

“I feel like it represents a great relationship between America and Jamaica and breaking down barriers and building up on the relationship. Hopefully, this is the first, but many more that will come through,” he said.

Away from his duties of ensuring that aircraft are mission-ready, he also serves as one of the handlers of the ship’s service dog named ‘Poseidon’, a role that has made him popular among his crewmates, who described him as bringing “joy to the entire ship, every day”.

As he prepared to step on home ground in Kingston, Crowl, smiling with evident excitement, admitted that the significance of the moment was still sinking in.

“I’m kind of still taking it in. Probably won’t hit me until I get off, but it’s good,” said Crowl.

Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Jamaica Scott Renner told guests at the opening ceremony of the event that the Southern Seas 2026 deployment reflected the United States’ continued commitment to working alongside close regional partners, like Jamaica, to advance shared security objectives and promote a safer, stronger, and more prosperous hemisphere.

“There’s not a better symbol of the security cooperation between the US and Jamaica and our work on maritime security than this incredible ship being here today. It really is part of an overall relationship we have with Jamaica. It’s an honour to be a part of this,” said Renner.

He said that while in Jamaica, the sailors would not only be enjoying a short vacation, but also participating in school beautification projects, and working alongside communities to stage activities for the youth.

“They’ll be going to school shoulder-to-shoulder with their JDF (Jamaica Defence Force) colleagues, working to paint and repair schools in Jamaica. They’ll also have football camps, that’s American football camps, with some young people. And there will be tours of the ship with the Caribbean Maritime Academy and with some of the students in school, to really let them experience and interact with our crew,” he said.

“All of this is really possible because of the hard work of the people at the port, the people in the Government, the people in the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force), the people in the JDF, [and] the people aboard this ship who put in tireless hours to get it here today.”

From left: Executive director of Jamaica Vacations Joy Roberts; Minister of Industry, Investment, and Commerce Aubyn Hill; Rear Admiral Cassidy Norman, Chargé d’Affaires, US Embassy Scott Renner; Brigadier Elon Clarke; and Captain Joseph Furco in front of the the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN68) at the opening ceremony of the vessel’s official welcome to Jamaica at the Kingston Port on Monday. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN68) at Kingston Port on Monday. The ship is on its last stop of a multinational goodwill Southern Seas operation and will remain in Jamaica until June 5. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)