By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Molly A. Evans
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Tactical Training Group Pacific (TTGP) successfully conducted the first-ever dual-carrier Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint Exercise (FST-J) for Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5, held throughout the U.S. Pacific Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) April 29-May 2.
FST-J is designed to train carrier strike groups to integrate with other units that are geographically separate, in a tactically and operationally demanding computer-based synthetic training environment. Participants included Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 5, CSG 11, Bonhomme Richard (BHR) Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), and other units from the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and Royal Australian Navy.
"Normally we support one strike group but here we are supporting three [two CSGs and one ARG], and the biggest advantage to synthetic training is the cost savings," said Christopher Stevenson, game coordinator for TTGP. "We can provide the players with a simulated environment that presents more realistic challenges than would otherwise be practical."
In order to achieve the same level of training at sea, 18 ships would have had to be underway, according to Capt. Tom Neill, TTGP Operations and Training officer.
Rear Adm. Russell Allen, deputy commander U.S. 7th Fleet and Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) for FST-J, said that the level of complexity of the ships' systems in this synthetic exercise was unparalleled.
By including CSG 11 and BHR ARG, this FST-J enabled 7th Fleet to train in dual carrier operations and integrate with additional units while going through scenarios that are not fiscally and logistically feasible in a real-world training environment.
"We had the opportunity to correlate dual carrier strike group exercises while they were thousands of miles apart, and that's an amazing thing," said Rear Adm. Joseph Kuzmick, commander, CSG 15).
"We combined both operational and tactical levels simultaneously so that you could have multiple staffs receiving unique training at once," said Rear Adm. Dee Mewbourne, commander, CSG 11, who also noted the benefit of building command relationships throughout the exercise.
Prior to this FST-J, TTGP completed a three-week long synthetic training with CSG 1 that will be replicated and graded during upcoming live training, Composite Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) when the ships are at sea.
U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.