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COMPTUEX Prepares Anzio for Deployment

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060424-03
Release Date: 4/19/2006 12:01:00 PM

By Journalist Seaman Recruit Jeff Hall, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic

USS ANZIO, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Anzio (CG 68) went to sea April 12 for Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) to prepare for its upcoming deployment as part of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group (IKESTKGRU).

During COMPTUEX, Anzio's crew will conduct drills and war games to create the most realistic deployment simulation possible for themselves and the rest of the strike group.

“Commander, Strike Force Atlantic wants to place each strike group into an environment that closely matches the area where the strike group will be deploying,” said Capt. Perry Bingham, Anzio’s commanding officer. “Within that environment, they make the strike group complete all mission requirements that they will face on deployment. Most of the exercises take DoD assets and have them simulate threats we may face on a deployment and have them employ tactics that our strike group could see in other parts of the world.”

As the air defense commander (ADC) for IKESTKGRU, the Anzio crew has a variety of missions to complete during their upcoming deployment - COMPTUEX tests that ability.

“With COMPTUEX, we will have myriad drills that will involve every crew member,” said Bingham.

“Our helicopters will do anti-submarine warfare events against several submarines in the scenario, and against other surface units that will oppose us. Anzio air controllers will control fighter aircraft off the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower against threat aircraft and will control them during strike packages ashore," he explained. "Tomahawk technicians will do simulated Tomahawk launches in support of those strike packages. The list of involvement goes on and on in what crew members will do to support the combat readiness of the ship.”

Anzio Sailors have also participated in numerous non-specialized readiness drills, including man-overboard, general quarters, abandon ship and damage control.

“We're training and focusing on various scenarios and situations as we prepare for the upcoming deployment,” said Engineman 2nd Class William Roman, Anzio’s Junior Sailor of the Year. “A strong united command is needed for a deployment where difficult challenges can happen at any given time. We must have a well-trained crew that works together and is prepared for the stresses and challenges that we will face together.”

Roman and his shipmates have a chance to work together to face those challenges through COMPTUEX.

“I want every crew member to better know their own ability, the ability of their ship and the ability of their shipmates before they are placed in a combat environment,” said Bingham. “This exercise allows each of them to learn the abilities of each of those and allows them to be more confident that they could handle any situation thrown at them.”

With Sailors like Roman under his command, Bingham has confidence that his crew will meet the challenges of Anzio’s upcoming deployment.

Anzio is expected to complete COMPTUEX and return to its home port of Naval Station Norfolk in mid-May.