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Blue Ridge Proves Seaworthiness in TSTA II

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050324-08
Release Date: 3/24/2005 12:37:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class Luke D. Johnson, USS Blue Ridge Public Affairs

ABOARD USS BLUE RIDGE, At sea (NNS) -- After months of intense training and preparation, the U.S. 7th Fleet command ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) successfully completed Tailored Ships Training Availability (TSTA) phase II March 19-23.

TSTA II is designed to refine skills and integrate watch teams into a single organization capable of coordinating their efforts for mission accomplishment.

"We tailor our scenarios to give the crew the training they need to react to any real-world threats from the air, sea, or land," said Blue Ridge Training Officer Lt. j.g. Roy M. Roberts Jr. "Not only does ATG (Afloat Training Group) look at how well the training teams are training the crew, they also observe each watch team to see how well they complete each objective. They see if the proper actions were taken according to the captain's battle bill."

The training includes emphasis on real-world scenarios integrating Combat Systems, C4I training, Engineering and Damage Control Condition I and III tactical and casualty control scenarios. The primary thrust of TSTA II is for the ship's training teams to train the ship under the guidance of ATG personnel.

While the ship's Sailors, Marines, and embarked U.S. 7th Fleet staff enjoyed a port visit to Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, inspectors from Yokosuka-based Western ATG embarked Blue Ridge and prepared for their role to evaluate the crew's performance in a series of demanding drill packages and to ultimately help them become more combat proficient.

Within hours of getting underway from the Philippines, drill scenarios began and Blue Ridge Sailors enthusiastically turned their potential into performance, showing how months of training and preparation had turned them into warriors at sea.

Blue Ridge Executive Officer Lt. Cmdr. John D. Wilshusen said he was amazed at the amount of effort and enthusiasm Blue Ridge Sailors put forth during each training evolution.

"It's amazing to watch 600-plus people pull together toward a common goal, and the sheer amount of energy was awesome," said Wilshusen. "I am very proud to be a part of the Blue Ridge. The quality of people here is awesome, and I don't think that I have been on a better ship."

Wilshusen said he received a lot of excellent remarks from ATG about the quality of the crew's performances and the Blue Ridge training teams.

"We took to heart the suggestions and recommendations that ATG offered about our training teams the last time they were aboard," said Wilshusen. "We incorporated their suggestions into our own training teams so that we could improve our own training regiment."

Roberts said TSTA is an important training evolution because it gives fleet commanders the assurance that Blue Ridge is mission-ready and the crew is ready to fight at any time.

"I think that practice makes perfect, and each drill the Blue Ridge runs is getting better and better each time," said Roberts.

Blue Ridge is a Blue Ridge-class amphibious command and control ship and the command ship of Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. Commanded by Capt. J. Stephen Maynard, of Kettering, Ohio, Blue Ridge supports a variety of missions by providing a robust communications suite to allow 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert and his embarked staff to provide guidance and direction to U.S. naval forces in the region.