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GW Completes TSTA II, III

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060429-16
Release Date: 4/29/2006 8:06:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Jennifer Crowell, USS George Washington Public Affairs

USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- USS George Washington (CVN 73) successfully completed the second and third phases of its Tailored Ship’s Training Availability (TSTA), April 13.

TSTA II and III mark the first time GW Sailors integrated with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 Sailors during drills.

“The crew has worked tremendously hard since our yard period until now to continue to train to maintain basic skills and also to sharpen skills where possible in every mission area,” said Lt. Cmdr. Michelle Carter, GW’s training officer. “TSTA is a culmination of those efforts and a chance for the crew and the training teams to demonstrate their proficiency in their respective warfighting areas that combine to save the ship from internal and external threats and damage.”

Members from Afloat Training Group (ATG) embarked GW April 4 as the ship got underway for the Caribbean Sea as part of “Partnership of the Americas.” ATG spent the first week of the underway training Sailors and members of GW’s training teams prior to grading how well the crew responds to each type of emergency.

“We were here to make sure each team is ready to perform if called upon during an emergency,” said Chief Damage Controman (SW) Herman Miller, an inspector for ATG. “It was Sailors training Sailors.”

“ATG was here to make sure we, as DCTT (damage control training team), are training the crew properly in all aspects of damage control,” said Electrician's Mate 1st Class (SW/AW) Tim Curtin, a member of GW's DCTT.

“The inspectors are assessing how well everyone works together and how well we’re performing,” said Damage Controlman Fireman Jared Carpenter, a fire team leader in one of GW's repair lockers.

During each general quarters (GQ) drill, ATG observed how well Sailors knew the tasks at hand.

“When we do our debriefs, we put out all the things Sailors can do to better themselves and make the drill a lot more realistic,” Miller said. “We want to see that gradual improvement.”

“Sailors really need to pay attention to what they’re doing,” Carpenter said. “When we go to GQ, everyone’s lives are in each other’s hands.”

TSTA is normally a single 25-day underway period with the air wing embarked to assess everything from navigation, seamanship, damage control and combat systems, to medical and flight deck operations. GW’s TSTA was unconventional in that it was conducted over several interrupted underway periods and did not follow the normal Fleet Readiness Training Plan model.

"The work of the crew is to be commended,” Carter said. “They stayed focused during the yard period and increased their efforts once the ship returned to Norfolk and eventually to sea operations, to make this assessment period a success for GW.”