Visitors watch as an F/A-18 Hornet from the Checkerboards of Marine Strike Fighter Squadron (VMFA) 312 completes an arrested landing aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Harry S. Truman is underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting a Composite Training Unit Exercise. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Joshua A. Moore/Released)By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Troutman, USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs
USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- The Harry S. Truman Strike (HST) Group, comprised of approximately 7,500 Sailors and Marines, is engaged in a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), a three-week evolution, designed to enhance the training and skills of crew members in preparation for an upcoming fall deployment.
COMPTUEX is a multi-week, intermediate-level exercise required of each carrier battle group before departing for a seven-month deployment. The exercise brings ships and aircraft together to prepare to project force as a battle group in the interest of global maritime security and protecting the nation's homeland security.
"COMPTUEX is a key fundamental training block that allows Sailors to improve their readiness," said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, commander, Carrier Strike Group 10. "That enhances our overall effectiveness. When we successfully complete COMPTUEX, we will be surge capable and ready to deploy in the event of an emerging contingency."
In the event of a contingency or threat, COMPTUEX will enable the strike group to respond in an effective manner and help set the conditions necessary for proper security and prosperity, thereby directly contributing to the defense of our homeland.
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) has completed numerous at-sea evolutions since the beginning of the year in preparation for a 2009-2010 deployment. In addition to being the ship's lengthiest sea trial before deployment, COMPTUEX will be the first evolution during which Truman and other strike group ships train together as a cohesive battle unit.
Capt. John Meier, Truman's executive officer, said the integration of the strike group is vital to the training necessary for Truman's success during COMPTUEX.
"The basic overall goal of the COMPTUEX exercise is really for us to demonstrate our ability to operate as an integrated strike group," said Meier. "This is how we will fight, how we will go into combat and how we will go into harm's way. We will be going into these scenarios with all of our strike group's assets, so it's important we train with all our assets."
Driscoll said COMPTUEX is different from prior sea exercises by its heightened degree of training and level of focus.
"This will be the most intense training we get as a strike group before we deploy," said Driscoll.
"Commander, Second Fleet Vice Admiral Mel Williams and Commander Fleet Forces Training Atlantic Rear Admiral Garry White and their staffs are very focused on training the HST carrier strike group and are providing numerous aircraft, ships and fast boats to act as opposition."
"The ability to protect the carrier, which is the great power projection unit for the Navy, is the key role of practicing our air defense," said Meier. "We work with all the units of the strike group to ensure the protection of this high-value target. It's all about how we interoperate, how we communicate and how we fight as a strike group."
Successful completion of COMPTUEX will certify Truman and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 as qualified for open ocean operations. It's not only a critical step in the pre-deployment training cycle but a prerequisite for the battle group's joint task force exercise (JTFX), Meier added.
To achieve that success, the battle group will need to rely on the key to success in any military strategy -- its people.
"COMPTUEX and CSG operations are a team sport," said Driscoll. "The Sailors are top-notch and highly-skilled, and I know they're going to be combat ready. My hope is we will leave COMPTUEX with a strong team and we will understand each warfare command's strengths and their efforts to the overall fight."
CSG-10 is made up of the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman; its embarked air wing, CVW 3; embarked Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 26; the guided missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66) the guided missile destroyers USS Carney (DDG 64), USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81); and the attack submarine USS Norfolk (SSN 714). Also participating in the exercise are frigates USS Stephen S. Groves (FFG 29) and USS McInerney (FFG 8).
CVW-3 consists of Strike Fighter Squadrons 32, 37 and 105; Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 312; Electronic Attack Squadron 130; Airborne Early Warning Squadron 126; Carrier Logistics Support Squadron 40; and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 7.
You can view a video report on this at http://www.navy.mil/swf/mmu/mmplyr.asp?id=12766
Here is the latest list of freqs that have been monitored during this COMPTUEX
3035.0 kHz USB HST CWC Air Warfare Commander Net HOTEL WHISKEY
136.975 Hawker Hunter/Phoenix Air/Flight Intl Air-to-Air, COUGAR/DART air-air
225.350 Pinecastle Targets - Range Impact (Strike/Shot Common)
228.400 Townsend Range Control - R-3007 Range Control
229.200 VMFA-312 CHECK Tactical
233.475 Unknown usage, VFA-37 RAGIN aircraft noted here
234.500 VFC-12 AMBUSH Tactical
240.400 HST STRIKE [Button 04]
240.425 Unknown user/Air-to-Air (Note: Used earlier this year by the Ike and CVW-7)
243.575 VAW-126 CLOSEOUT Air Intercept Control (AIC)/ VFA-105 CANYON / TRIDENT
261.250 Pinecastle Range R-2907
264.625 Avon Park MOA North Tactical
267.500 FACSFAC Jax: Warning Area Air/Ground Advisory South SEALORD
269.200 Jacksonville ARTCC - Unknown RCAG
271.275 VAW-126 CLOSEOUT with FREDDY / Secure comms
271.400 NAS Jacksonville (ex-VS squadron common; possible VFC-12 use)
273.550 Jacksonville ARTCC - Daytona Beach RCAG
275.500 VFA-37 RAGIN Tactical
276.600 Avon Park MOA Range - Range Target Scoring
277.800 Fleet Common-Tactical/Warning
278.125 HST CSG CWC Surface Warfare Commander Net HOTEL SIERRA [Button 05]
279.400 SILENT WARRIOR
282.975 VFA-105 CANYON Tactical 2
283.575 VFA-37 RAGIN Tactical
284.975 Air Intercept Control CLOSEOUT / SWEEP
288.425 Plane Reps
288.700 VFA-32 GYPSY Tactical
289.200 Pinecastle Range Operations - R-2910 Range Air Control
289.375 VNFA-312 CHECK Tactical
292.200 Aerial Refueling Boom / Avon Park Range Operations
293.725 Positive Identification and Radar Advisory Zone (PIRAZ) RED CROWN
299.500 VFC-12 AMBUSH Tactical / VIPER 1 air-air
301.950 VMFA-312 CHECK Tactical
303.000 Aerial Refueling Boom Secondary
304.950 Data Link-4A (Dolly)
307.250 Jacksonville ARTCC - Jacksonville/St. Augustine RCAG
310.825 Unknown user/Air-to-Air, possible ACM
312.175 HST Departure
318.875 HST CSG CWC Air Resources Element Commander Net: HOTEL ROMEO
328.450 HST Marshal [Button 16]
340.200 NAS Jacksonville Tower
342.250 Urban JTAC (Jacksonville)
342.325 HST CSG CWC Strike Warfare/Air Resources Element Commander Net: HOTEL PAPA
348.850 “sweet tanker” / “411 is sweet tanker” / “410 is sweet tanker”
351.800 Jacksonville Approach Control
354.900 Air Intercept Control (AIC) [Button 9]
357.000 VFA-32 GYPSY Tactical
357.425 HST CCA Alpha / PADDLES
364.100 HST CCA Bravo / PADDLES
367.625 VFA-32 GYPSY Tactical
369.325 VFA-32 GYPSY Tactical
371.825 VAW-126 CLOSEOUT Tactical
373.975 VFA-105 CANYON Tactical
374.000 Overhead Aerial refueling
374.300 VFC-12 AMBUSH Tactical
374.375 VFA-37 RAGIN Tactical
377.050 Jacksonville Approach/Departure Control
378.875 Unknown user/usage
379.875 VMFA-312 CHECK Tactical
384.100 Unknown user/Air-to-Air (DRAGON use in the past)
Have Quick
225.150, 235.050, 239.950, 252.925, 257.250, 262.450, 267.850, 271.950, 279.750, 284.150, 289.050, 293.550, 298.650, 308.750, 314.450