( CNN ) The U.S. Navy does n't just do stuff `` for fun , '' says the command master chief of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan , but what 30 % of the ship 's crew will be up to over the next year or so can at least be termed pretty cool . And it will certainly be unprecedented . Some 1,200 of the Reagan 's crew will be executing what the Navy calls a three-hull swap , serving aboard three different carriers in one tour of duty as the service juggles assets to meet mission requirements . The 1,200 are calling themselves `` The Three Presidents Crew , '' as they will serve aboard three of the Navy 's carriers named after presidents : the Reagan , the USS George Washington and the USS Theodore Roosevelt . The crew will even have its own insignia and hull number , CVN 220 , the sum of the hull numbers of the Reagan ( CVN 76 ) , the Roosevelt ( CVN 71 ) and the Washington ( CVN 73 ) . Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Frederick aboard the Reagan came up with the logo . `` I am honored that my art will be a part of the legacy of this 'Three Presidents ' crew , and I hope that it will bring attention to the hard work of all the Sailors who are involved in this crew swap , '' he said . The swap will begin this summer . The George Washington will go from its home port in Japan to San Diego , where a crew swap with the Reagan will take place . While the George Washington crew takes the Reagan to replace the Washington in Japan , the Three Presidents crew will board the George Washington , which will be headed for Norfolk , Virginia , and an overhaul . The 1,200 will sail with the Washington around South America , then they will fly back to San Diego to crew the Roosevelt , which is taking the Reagan 's current spot there . `` Think of how difficult a three-hull carrier swap would be to carry out , '' Capt . Chris Bolt , the commander of the Reagan , said in the ship 's publication , The 76er . `` It 's never been done before . '' `` We are just moving assets around so we can continue to meet mission requirements . That 's exactly what this is all about . It 's not because the Navy said , 'Let 's do this for fun , ' `` Spike Call , command master chief of the Reagan , said in The 76er . Seven of the Navy 's 10 active aircraft carriers are named after presidents . As one commenter on the Reagan 's Facebook page said , maybe next time , the Navy could add a fourth carrier to the hull swap and come up with ... the USS Mount Rushmore . Hmmm , the Navy does have the USS Abraham Lincoln ( CVN 72 ) , but there is no carrier for Jefferson . So say we sub in the Reagan and come up with CVN 292 . Apologies to the USS Rushmore ( LSD 47 ) .
1,200 sailors to go through a three - hull overhaul , arriving aboard three different carriers in one tour of duty . crew members will serve on three ships named after them . The ships will take them from Japan , around South America to Virginia , and then back west to San Diego .