By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Carla Ocampo, USS John C. Stennis Public Affairs
USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- The John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (JCSCSG) completed a successful Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) May 27 off the coast of Southern California.
COMPTUEX, a three week exercise required for each carrier strike group, and designed to drill every warfare area from subsurface, surface and air to practice responses to situations that may occur while on deployment.
JCSCSG is made up of John C. Stennis, CVW-9, guided missile cruiser USS Mobile Bay (CG 53), and DESRON 21; guided missile destroyers USS Kidd (DDG 100), USS Dewey (DDG 105), USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) and USS Pinckney (DDG 91).
"We all came together at the beginning of COMPTUEX as individual operating elements, and combined the forces into an effective strike group that is ready to deploy," said Cmdr. Stevin Johnson, strike operations officer.
This is the first time the strike group has worked together since last deployment.
Embarked Strike Force Training Pacific evaluators mentored the JCSCSG on integrated operational capabilities through a series of simulations.
Stennis simulated strait transits with other ships from the strike group; conducted multi-mission air wing operations; participated in replenishments at sea; and ran many shipboard drills.
"Like any evolution you have to meet certain requirements before you can get the grade of satisfactory," said Johnson.
Unit specific training allowed the separate strike group assets to practice their roles individually, while other situations reinforced the strike group's ability to integrate and operate as a single force.
"As a strike group we have gotten much better at coordinating our efforts and achieving the desired goal through a united front rather than individual warfare commanders," said Johnson.
With COMPTUEX complete, JCSCSG will begin a Joint Training Force Exercise.
"This is just the next step to a higher level of training and readiness for JCSCSG," said Johnson. "Next, we roll right into JTFEX and continue the same training we're doing right now but in a more complicated scenario.
COMPTUEX and JTFEX prepared Stennis and the JCSCG for the upcoming deployment this year.
"COMPTUEX has equipped our Sailors to meet worldwide challenges in a safe and professional manner," said John C. Stennis Commanding Officer Capt. Ron Reis. "It has given our crew the confidence and knowledge to be able to execute mission requirements during deployment; from humanitarian relief efforts to dealing with piracy or warfare in any region of the world."
