Wednesday, December 18, 2013

USS Roosevelt Sailors Complete COMPTUEX

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Wolpert, George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs
USS ROOSEVELT, At Sea (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) completed its final pre-deployment exercise with the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group, Dec. 15.

Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) is an evaluation that tests mission readiness of a carrier strike group in the execution of the nation's maritime strategy while deployed.

The test consisted of simulated scenarios which evaluated the ability of the strike group to engage hostile forces and respond to aggression. Sailors of Roosevelt honed their ability to board vessels, react to chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) attacks, and defend against small craft approaches. Every department was tested during the three-week exercise.

"Whether it was the flight deck crew, the boat deck crew, the bridge team, Combat Information Center, or the engineers that keep the plants running, every single person on this ship did what they were supposed to do - all contributing factors to Roosevelt's success during COMPTUEX," said Cmdr. Jason Reller, Roosevelt's executive officer.

Cmdr. Jay Clark, Roosevelt's commanding officer, also praised the Sailors.

"I've always found the Sailors on Roosevelt to take a lot of pride in what they do; it's never just a job to them," said Clark. "COMPTUEX has been a very good morale booster for the crew and a true team builder. It's just one more opportunity for them to show how capable the Roosevelt is and that's how they approached it."

This is Roosevelt's first time in four years operating within a strike group.

"Roosevelt found her stride and the crew was firing on all cylinders," said Clark. "The thing was, we didn't start off bad and get progressively better - we maintained a constant performance level the whole way through."

Roosevelt's success was attributed to its motivated crew.

Roosevelt's Command Master Chief William Mullinax said, "Every mission, every task that has been given to the ship, we were able to complete right the first time, and complete it on time."

George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group consists of Carrier Strike Group 2 staff, Carrier Air Wing 8, Destroyer Squadron 22 staff, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), guided-missile cruisers USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), and guided-missile destroyers USS Truxtun (DDG 103), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51).