Enterprise Aces TSTA/FEP
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS051121-03
Release Date: 11/21/2005 12:27:00 PM
By Airman Jacob McGrath, USS Enterprise Public Affairs
ABOARD USS ENTERPRISE, At sea (NNS) -- The crew of USS Enterprise (CVN 65) surpassed expectations with the successful conclusion of its Tailored Ship’s Training Availability (TSTA) and Final Evaluation Phase (FEP) Nov. 19.
Big E completed more than three months' worth of training and graded evaluations in less than six weeks, and earned a near perfect score in the process.
“When we came out of the yards, we had been focusing on material condition for over a year,” said Chief Warrant Officer J. Gilbert, repair officer and Damage Control Training Team (DCTT) leader, referring to the ship’s 14-month Extended Selected Restricted Availability at Northrop Grumman Newport News Shipyard. “Now that we are out, however, we’ve shifted our attention to damage control and combat readiness.”
Enterprise is conducting Unit Level Training (ULT), a series of tasks that Afloat Training Group (ATG) Atlantic requires the ship to accomplish prior to deploying.
ULT is broken down in stages, starting with the Identification Phase, which shows the ship its status on paper. Sailors are assigned General Quarters positions, and the crew’s overall Personal Qualifications Standards status is assessed. From there, ATG visits the ship to assess the program and run a few drills.
“The purpose of this phase is to allow ATG to take a snapshot of Big E, to find out exactly where we are, and how far we need to come,” explained Gilbert.
Next in the process is TSTA and FEP. “This process normally takes three, four or even five months,” Gilbert said. “We did it in a six-week period. That just goes to show that Big E Sailors can really turn it on.”
“We have been very busy with Carrier Qualifications, Flight Deck Certification, Fuel Certification, and just about any other certification you can think of,” said CMDCM (SW/SS) Robin Spelman, Enterprise command master chief. “We did very well. The crew responded excellently in all areas of TSTA/FEP evaluation. The crew had a lot of things going on, and I am very proud of them for stepping up to the plate and performing as marvelously as they did.”
According to Gilbert, when Enterprise conducted TSTA/FEP in preparation for the 2003-2004 deployment, the crew earned an overall score of 81 percent, and the Damage Control Training Team in particular received a 7.5 out of a possible 10 from ATG.
“We just received a 94 percent for the crew and a ten-out-of-ten for DCTT,” Gilbert said. “That is just outstanding.”
These scores are now compiled into Enterprise’s overall grade for the Battle "E" award. “Just like in boot camp, when you earn different flags for different accomplishments, leading up to the Hall of Fame, we’re doing the same thing,” said Gilbert. “We are aiming for that Battle "E," which is about 14 months away.”
Spelman feels the Battle "E" is important to the crew, but for him, Enterprise’s success during TSTA and FEP has more real-world implications. “The real reason that we have been doing what we have is to make sure that we will be 100-percent ready when the President gives the call,” Spelman said. “We need to be prepared for prompt and sustained combat operations at sea, and we have come a long way in showing everyone that we are.”
The Unit Level Training is ongoing. Enterprise still has the Supply Management Inspection on the horizon, along with a visit from the Board of Inspection and Survey, prior to its scheduled deployment in Spring of 2006.
Between the Combat Systems, Navigation, Air Department, Medical and Damage Control Training Teams that make up Big E’s Integrated Training Team, the crew of Enterprise completed more than 135 drills in just three weeks. The crew now has a near-perfect score to prove that Enterprise is, indeed, “Ready on Arrival.”
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