USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, At Sea (NNS) -- Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8 successfully completed a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) May 17, off the East Coast of the United States from Virginia to Florida, in preparation for their scheduled combat deployment later this year.
The exercise, which started April 24, was conducted by a training team led by Commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic (CSFTL). COMPTUEX ensured the collective forces of the Carrier Strike Group attained major combat operations certification and are ready for deployment.
"This three weeks of intense at-sea training is hands-down the most effective way to train our team of combatant ships, the carrier, the air wing, and strike group staff for sustained operations while deployed to 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility," said Rear Adm. Michael Manazir, commander, Carrier Strike Group 8. "The trainers of Strike Force Training Atlantic and their supporting cast have assembled a curriculum which stresses ships and their crews to the high-end of warfighting capabilities and refines non-kinetic missions such as maritime interception operations and theater security cooperation. After completing COMPTUEX, I am more confident than ever in our ability to go anywhere in the world, anytime, and successfully conduct the full range of missions that we may be directed to accomplish."
The strike group was assessed on their ability to execute the nation's maritime strategy. The task scenarios provided Sailors with experience for deployment as they operated together through strike warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, anti-air warfare, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. The scenario also involved events focused on irregular warfare, counter-piracy, counters proliferation and associated maritime interdiction operations.
Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group consists of aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), the guided-missile destroyers USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), USS Farragut (DDG 99), and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), the guided-missile cruiser USS Hue City (CG 66), Carrier Air Wing 7, Destroyer Squadron 28, and Spanish Navy frigate Braz de Leso (F 103).
Independent deployers the guided-missile destroyers USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), the guided-missile frigates USS Klakring (FFG 42) and USS Carr (FFG 52), dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), and the Brazilian Navy frigate BNS Independencia (F 44) also participated.