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Kearsarge Successfully Completes Force Protection Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070610-09
Release Date: 6/10/2007 4:07:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Christopher Lange, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs

ABOARD USS KEARSARGE (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the Norfolk-based amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) successfully completed an Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Exercise (ATFPX) June 7.

ATFPX is one of the major requirements ships must complete prior to deployment. Inspectors from Commander Strike Force Training Atlantic (CSFTA) evaluated the ship's watch standers, the Force Protection Training Team (FPTT) and the Ship's Self Defense Force.

ATFPX is a 36-hour training exercise designed to train watch standers how to react and respond to different threat situations regardless of the location. The evolution consisted of more than 60 watch standers, the Force Protection Training Team, the Ship's Self Defense Force, a rigid hull inflatable boat crew and the ship's in-port fire party.

The training used real-world scenarios and evaluated the ship's ability to defend the strike group and their personnel by stress-testing their response to each situation.

"The purpose of [ATFPX] is to prepare Sailors for real-world situations they may encounter on deployment. Every Sailor on board is responsible for knowing and carrying out ship's force protection," said Master-at-Arms 1st Class Terrell Baker.

The exercise was designed to evaluate Kearsarge's ability to go through situations during Force Protection Condition Bravo. With each incident, the force protection teams elevated their levels of security.

"This training was extremely effective. It makes the crew realize force protection should be taken seriously whether we are in our homeport of Norfolk or forward deployed and in the port of Dubai," said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Sonya Flores. "The daily training in the hangar bay eased the tension and helped prepare us for the actual exercise."

CSFTA implemented sea and shore surveillance, protests, improvised explosive devices, bomb threats and small boat and swimmer-attack drills. The series of drills were purposely designed to identify weaknesses in order to prepare the ship for overseas operations.

The FPTT conducted training daily while underway in preparation for the exercise.

"The hangar bay aboard Kearsarge became a mock entry control point and training focused on simulated attacks that might occur on deployment. The training prepared us for proper watch standing and vigilance we'll have to maintain while on deployment," said Fire Controlman 3rd Class Eugene Powell, one of the participants in the exercise.