CART 1: Enterprise's Self Assessment for the Future
Navy Newsstand
Story Number: NNS040109-14
Release Date: 1/12/2004 4:56:00 AM
By Journalist Seaman Richard Locklear, USS Enterprise Public Affairs
ABOARD USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- Before USS Enterprise (CVN 65) could deploy to the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Gulf in August 2003 in support of the war on terrorism, it had to complete a rigorous training evolution known as the Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX).
Often referred to as a 'final exam,' COMPTUEX is the last test to ensure the readiness of the ship and its crew. Even though Enterprise's current deployment is not yet complete, preparations are already beginning to ensure the carrier is ready for the next one.
Through Jan. 15, Enterprise will go through a self-evaluation known as Command Assessment Readiness and Training (CART) 1.
"CART 1 is an inter-departmental training self-assessment," said Lt. Cmdr. Karan Schriver, Enterprise's training officer. "This is an evolution that is required to take place on every ship in the Navy toward the end of its deployment. CART is a tool that is designed to help ships plan for manning, training and readiness requirements for the coming year," she said.
The assessment's grade sheets cover everything relating to readiness, from manning and long-range training plans, to personnel qualifications standards and watch-team replacements. In addition, Schriver explained that the entire assessment of Enterprise is to be conducted by its own crew.
"We'll have people from one department assessing another, and then that department will return the favor," she said.
The assessment will also include a mass casualty drill, a pump room fire drill and a general quarters drill.
"When we do these drills, we're not going to put our 'A' team in there. We are going to put the junior guys in there, because they will be the ones who will be in the positions of leadership in the future," said Schriver. "We want to see where we stand now so that we can get the training we need to be ready."
Schriver added that this assessment is a chance for Sailors to ask for the training they think they need to do their jobs more effectively.
"If any Sailor on board thinks they need a school or additional training to do their job, now is the time to speak up," she said. "This is the time that we identify those needs and then go do something about them."
"If COMPTUEX was a final exam, then CART 1 is like starting the whole process over again," said Lt. Cmdr. Albon Head, Air Department's CART 1 representative. "For a lot of Sailors, this will be their first chance to step into positions of leadership. This way, they can know what they must do to be prepared for future operations."
Schriver said that when a shortcoming is discovered in a particular area, it isn't necessarily a bad thing.
"We want to be picky during CART 1, because the more hits we take, the more prepared we'll be in the future."
In accordance with the Navy's Fleet Response Plan, Enterprise Sailors will remain ready to deploy whenever they are called upon to do so. Through CART 1, the carrier and her crew will find out what training and skills they need to keep that warfighting edge.
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