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Hawk heads to sea trained, equipped, ready

Kitty Hawk Release

Release Date: 10/25/2002

By: JO1(SW) Ryan Bell

USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) left its forward operating port of Yokosuka, Japan, Friday, for a scheduled underway period in the Western Pacific. While at sea, the ship's crew, along with the embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 5 and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15 is scheduled to engage in combined military exercises with regional allies, and conduct unit-level training.

In preparation for this at-sea period, the Hawk/5 team completed training designed to ensure every department within Hawk is 100 percent ready to contribute to the ship's mission. Personnel from Afloat Training Group Western Pacific and Naval Air Forces Pacific assessed the effectiveness of that training, during a four-day sea trials period conducted Oct 15-18.

Sea trials resulted in COMNAVAIRPAC certifications of the ship's flight deck, air traffic controllers, and the engineering plant fuel systems. Sea trials also resulted in positive feedback from ATG on the crew's ability to train itself, according to Lt. Cmdr. David Scott, Kitty Hawk training officer. "During sea trials, we did a thorough assessment under the watch of ATG West Pac called Command Assessment of Readiness and Training. This assessment went well," Scott said.

As Hawk completed a major replenishment of ordnance during her first day at sea with USNS Flint (T-AE 32), the crew shifted its focus to the training opportunities that lie ahead.

"Coming up, we'll be doing intensive training with evolutions, drills and GQ scenarios. ATG will be sending out dedicated training teams periodically for department-specific training. All this is in preparation for our Tailored Ship's Training Availabilities, currently scheduled for the spring," Scott said.

Throughout the future training, one department will remain particularly instrumental to the success of the others.

Kitty Hawk Stock Control Officer Lt. Homero Ramos said the ship's supply department stands ready to play an integral role in the readiness of each department, each division and each Sailor on board the ship. He noted that supply continues to meet its responsibility to feed, equip, serve and support each Sailor on board Kitty Hawk, as the department contends for its third consecutive COMNAVAIRPAC Blue "E" supply management excellence award.

"Our ability to execute our mission is a factor in Hawk/5 completing its mission - bombs on target," said Lt. Cmdr Donald Hughes, Kitty Hawk assistant supply officer.

"The training office will also continue to provide the necessary support in order to keep us, the tip of the spear, sharp," Scott said.