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Bataan Completes ULTRA-S Evaluation

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070615-19
Release Date: 6/15/2007 3:43:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Pedro A. Rodriguez, USS Bataan Public Affairs

ABOARD USS BATAAN (NNS) -- The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) completed a three-day evaluation, Unit Level Training Assessment-Sustainment (ULTRA-S), while underway in the Mediterranean Sea, June 10.

ULTRA-S is an evaluation of the ship’s training proficiency levels conducted by the Afloat Training Group (ATG) and the ship’s Immediate Senior in Command (ISIC). The ship is evaluated in warfare areas such as engineering, damage control, combat systems, medical and aviation. The assessment also covers seamanship, navigation and the Maintenance Material Management (3M) program.

“The objective of ULTRA-S is to verify that common standards are in place and the Training Figure of Merit (TFOM) tool is being effectively used,” said Lt. Cmdr. Sean Burke, Bataan’s training officer.

The ship conducted various drills and evolutions in the different warfare areas, including complex integrated training team scenarios, man overboard and at-sea fire party drills.

“The deployed ULTRA-S results are the key data point regarding the self-assessment capability of both the ISIC and the ship,” said Burke. “It was a good look, and we will work on our training so that we can continue to improve before heading into the next cycle.”

The ULTRA-S assessment by ATG should have no more than a 10 percent difference in their evaluation compared to the ship’s self assessment.

“The damage control training effort was huge, the combat systems watchstanders did great, the air department guys were superb, and the engineers did a great job. It was a strong performance across the board,” said Cmdr. Mark Scovill, Bataan’s executive officer. “This crew is made of people who are eager to improve themselves and their ship.”

Bataan’s repair division played a major role in getting the ship ready for ULTRA-S.

“We trained the crew for about four hours a day in personnel qualification standards (PQS) such as advance damage control, chemical, radiological and biological attack, aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) station operator, investigator and up to scene leader,” said Hull Technician 3rd Class Tony Taubl. “All that training made me understand that any of my shipmates can respond to any casualty that can occur anywhere onboard the ship.”

The ultimate goal is to ensure that the ship maintains and sustains the highest possible levels of training and readiness at all times, particularly on deployment.

“ULTRA-S is not an end point, it’s the beginning of our next phase of operations, where we focus on maintenance and crew certification,” said Scovill. “It gives us some things to think about and some things to train for as we get ready for our next deployment.”

Bataan, commanded by Capt. Rick Snyder, left its homeport of Norfolk Jan. 4 on a regularly scheduled deployment as the flagship of the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG). The ESG is comprised of the Bataan Strike Group, commanded by Capt. Peter Fanta, commander Bataan Strike Group/Amphibious Squadron (PHIBRON) 2, and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) based out of Camp Lejeune, N.C., commanded by Col. Gregg Sturdevant.

Bataan Strike Group includes PHIBRON 2, Bataan, Shreveport, Oak Hill, USS Vella Gulf (CG 72), USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Underwood (FFG 36), and USS Scranton (SSN 756).