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USS Vincennes Sailors become seaworthy with TSTA

7th Fleet

Release Date: 1/28/2004

By Journalist 3rd Class Brock Taylor, Naval Media Center Fleet Support Detachment Yokosuka

ABOARD USS VINCENNES AT SEA - Sailors aboard USS Vincennes (CG 49) are getting themselves and their ship better prepared for combat with the aid of a Tailored Ship Training Availability (TSTA).

Yokosuka's Afloat Training Group Western Pacific embarked the ship before it left port Jan. 24 to guide and train Vincennes Sailors with various shipboard scenarios during TSTA. TSTA will also strengthen weaknesses found during the ship's Command Assessment of Readiness and Training (CART) Two, held last December.

"It's basically a 'train the trainers' concept. We work with the ship's training team to assist them so they can take that training with them when ATG departs after the first phase," said Lt. Scott Bailey, training liaison officer for ATGWP.

A couple hours after getting under way from Yokosuka, the crew began its first TSTA-assisted training evolution, a towing exercise (TOWEX). During TOWEX, Vincennes got a "lift" from USS John S. McCain (DDG 56). Although the evolution was a first for many, everyone -- from junior Sailors in deck division to senior watch standers on the bridge -- maintained determination throughout the six-hour exercise.

"Honestly, I think they've done a great job. Even though they weren't getting graded, they worked just as hard to complete the evolution," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) Joseph Hoffman from ATGWP.

Other TSTA scenarios included an underway replenishment (UNREP), man overboard drills, general quarters, and a visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) exercise using USNS Yukon (T-AO 202) as a suspect vessel. With every training scenario, members from ATGWP were there to guide, assist, and provide feedback.

"They (ATGWP) basically observe, they take a lot of notes during the combat systems training team scenario and they ask input from every team member," said Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class Chuck Wells, a Vincennes Sailor.

Wells has been aboard for almost two years and this is his first TSTA.

"(ATGWP) take a look at how we do things as far as what we're supposed to in a given scenario as compared to how we react. I'm pleased to say that so far we've done pretty good. We've been trained well, executed well, and any discrepancy that they have found has been minor," Wells added.

This is only the first phase of TSTA for the Vincennes. According to Bailey, TSTA will take the ship into several more phases until it ready for its Final Evaluation Problem (FEP) in March.

"The biggest part of preparing is to continue maintaining a watchful eye on training and keeping their maintenance up. That in itself will help ships prepare better for reentering the basic phase," Bailey concluded.

ATGWP is expected to provide TSTA to approximately 19 other Seventh Fleet ships in the coming year.