By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class David Wyscaver, Nassau Strike Group Public Affairs
NORFOLK (NNS) -- With the Expeditionary Strike Group Integration exercise completed, the Nassau Strike Group (NASSG) continued its training and readiness operations by successfully completing the Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint (FST-J) 08-2 exercise from Oct. 9-19.
With oversight by Commander, 2nd Fleet, FST-J was a distribution training exercise that utilized the Navy’s continuous training environment to provide realistic operational and tactical-level training in a synthetic environment simultaneously at different fleet concentration areas including Mayport, Fla. and Norfolk.
The exercise provided the NASSG a dedicated opportunity to train its decision makers, promote coordination between warfare commanders, execute battle force operations, and familiarize its crews with real-time operations and terminology, all while in an inport training environment.
While FST-J marked the 12th time one or more Atlantic Fleet strike groups trained via a network, it was the first time that an Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) conducted the training from aboard their respective ships. In the past, ESG’s had conducted all or some of the scenario from classrooms at Tactical Training Group Atlantic (TTGL) at Naval Air Station Oceana’s Dam Neck Annex. Here, the scenario was facilitated aboard the strike group ships pierside at Naval Station Norfolk.
"Sailors and Marines had completed their ESG integrated training event and immediately prepared to begin two weeks of a Fleet Synthetic Training scenario," said Capt. Robert G. Lineberry, Commander, Nassau Strike Group.
"Nassau Strike Group was the first Expeditionary Strike Group to conduct this training from aboard their own ships simulating at-sea conditions. The Sailors and Marines looked forward to this challenging and realistic simulation training that provided a wide range of scenarios to train our Blue/Green team in a coalition partnership environment," Lineberry explained.
The exercise was an evolution encompassing classroom instruction, tactical and operational planning, and scenario execution using Joint Semi-Automated Forces and Battle Force Team Trainer architecture. It was comprised of both scripted and dynamic events driven by participant actions. Training events were also leveraged to realize efficiencies during advanced phase training increasing the quality of underway time.
Additionally, conducting training in-port, provides high quality training at low cost. Inport simulation allows the Navy to train with much less stress on equipment while balancing employability/deployability requirements for Sailors. It also allows trainers the opportunity to apply more variety to an exercise. Adversary activity can be added as well as additional aircraft, ships, and submarines without burning fuel or adding wear and tear to ships and equipment.
The NASSG also benefited from mentoring from members of Commander, Strike Force Training, Atlantic; TTGL, and Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Atlantic staffs, particularly for joint and coalition operations.
Lineberry noted exercises like FST-J are crucial to the readiness of an overall naval force.
"FST-J is an important part of the Fleet Response Program which is designed to provide a naval force that can maintain meaningful forward presence while generating the ability to surge additional combat power as needed to meet regional combatant commander requirements," he explained. "Along with ensuring and testing our overall readiness, also provided some training opportunities throughout the strike group."
"The purpose of any of these training evolutions is to make the Navy and Marine Corps function as one well-oiled machine," said Gunnery Sgt. Anthony Bargallo, USS Nassau (LHA 4) combat cargo operations officer. "The reason we train is so we can learn each other’s standard operating procedures while preparing for deployment."
From NASSG, Nassau, USS Nashville (LPD 13), USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Ashland (LSD 48), USS Ross (DDG 71), USS Albany (SSN 753), Amphibious Squadron 6 and 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit all participated in FST-J 08-2, along with coalition crews from ship simulators in the United Kingdom and Germany.
Currently preparing for its regularly scheduled 2008 deployment, the NASSG is made up of more than 5,000 Sailors and Marines.