In the fall of 1999, "Spruance" detached from the "John F. Kennedy" carrier group to relieve as the U.S. representative to the Standing Naval Forces Mediterranean (STANAVFORMED). After dealing with the effects of Hurricane Floyd and Hurricane Gert off the east coast of Florida, "Spruance" crossed the Atlantic and entered the Mediterranean with other ships from the "John F. Kennedy" carrier group. STANAVFORMED is part of NATO's `Reaction Force' and as such was ready to respond to any crisis in NATO's area of interest, although its primary area of operations is the Mediterranean. "Spruance" was expected to remain assigned to STANAVFORMED through March 2000.