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Nassau ESG Completes Final AT/FP Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050923-11
Release Date: 9/23/2005 2:14:00 PM

By Lt. Lesley Lykins, USS Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group Public Affairs

NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The USS Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) successfully completed its pre-deployment Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) integrated training exercise Sept. 20 on the waterfront here.

The crews of USS Nassau (LHA 4), USS Cape St. George (CG 71), USS Laboon (DDG 58), USS Winston Churchill (DDG 81), USS Austin (LPD 4), and USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) deterred simulated potential suicide bombers, surveillance teams, small boat attacks and responded to many other force protection scenarios while being evaluated on their execution, as well as command and control capabilities.

“This is the ESG’s final exercise to determine how we work together as a team,” said Lt. Eric B. McLendon, the staff’s AT/FP officer. “Each ship has completed its own AT/FP training, and during this two-day exercise, the ships coordinate with one another and determine what the next step is for the team.”

During the exercise, the ESG simulated that all ships were in the same country but scattered at various ports. They had to work together to communicate efficiently and ensure the chain of command was kept informed.

The AT/FP staff for Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet coordinated the exercise, and members of the Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal community, Fleet Composite Squadron (VC) 6, USS Saipan (LHA 2), and various Destroyer Squadron staff assisted in the evaluation.

“We are preparing to send them out the door a much harder target than when they came in,” said Lt. Cmdr. Todd Eveland, a member of the U.S. 2nd Fleet AT/FP staff. “Each ship has certainly improved, making it a lot harder for the bad guys. A good thing.”

Eveland and his team were observing each individual ship, but a much larger part of the exercise evaluated communications and how well the group was able to keep all levels of the chain of command informed.

Information Systems Technician 1st Class William Walker stood watch as the ESG’s staff duty officer.

“It was very smooth," he said. "There were a lot of phone calls as well as relaying of information.”

“Our security is only as good as the people who are standing watch at each post,” said Lt. j.g. Mark Reid, Nassau’s security officer. “This training brought a great deal of experience to the waterfront from senior AT/FP leadership.”

Reid explained that having participants from other commands added new faces to his team’s training environment and made the drills more realistic by using unfamiliar role players. He also appreciated the evaluators’ outside perspectives on the Nassau’s response to scenarios and has implemented their recommendations for even tighter shipboard security.

Capt. Martin R. Allard, commander, Nassau Expeditionary Strike Group, stressed the importance of the exercise and was pleased with how well the group worked together.

“With real world events, Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection training is critical for naval units,” said Allard. “The training from 2nd Fleet was excellent and prepared us well for deployment.”

The Nassau ESG and 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit are preparing to begin the Expeditionary Strike Group Certification Exercise, the final phase in their combined training prior to deployment.