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SHIPTRAIN Revolutionizing Surface Force Training

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060214-04
Release Date: 2/14/2006 12:48:00 PM

From Commander, Naval Surface Forces Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Starting February, Commander, Naval Surface Forces is implementing SHIPTRAIN, a new continuous training process that is expected to reduce the time required to train, assess and certify a ship as ready to be tasked from 16 weeks to approximately four weeks.

The time reduction made possible by SHIPTRAIN will support the Fleet Response Plan (FRP) by making more ships available to combatant commanders and re-capitalizing valuable tax dollars.

“SHIPTRAIN is a revolutionary process improvement that provides the measurement tool to sustain unit proficiency at the most effective and efficient level of operational readiness,” said Vice Adm. Terry Etnyre, Commander, Naval Surface Forces (CNSF), “It represents the next big step forward to achieving continuous training and fully supports the Fleet Response Plan.”

SHIPTRAIN was made possible with the internal Navy development of a readiness database called Training and Operational Readiness Information Services (TORIS) and a software application called Training Figure of Merit (TFOM). TFOM gives surface ship commanding officers the ability to track their ship’s combat readiness and then allocate training resources appropriately to maintain it.

To maintain the highest standards and ensure fleet-wide compliance, the Navy’s Afloat Training Groups (ATG) are also changing the manner in which they train, assess and certify ships.

Approximately every two years, ships will undergo a Unit Level Training Assessment (ULTRA) Certification/Engineering, followed by an ULTRA Sustainment assessment every six months. The purpose of the ULTRA is to validate the ship’s ability to self-assess and train, to use TORIS/TFOM and to certify the ship’s ability to perform required missions to a set standard. Continuous training will permit the Surface Force to maintain unit level training readiness at higher levels throughout the training cycle.

Captain Faris Farwell, commander of ATG Pacific, said the key to SHIPTRAIN is the ability of training teams aboard ships to properly train and assess the crew, using TORIS and TFOM as a tool to quantify results.

“Now people can look at a ship’s strong and weak points in near real time. This data shows the exact area of training the ship needs to target,” said Farwell.

Over the next 18 months, ATGs will install TORIS/TFOM software on all surface ships in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets.

“SHIPTRAIN is another valuable tool that will help get the Surface Force ready faster and remain ready longer,” said Etnyre, “All at the right cost, at the right time and at the right place.”