Multiple Services, Strike Groups Simulate At-Sea Rescue During Valiant Shield 2007
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS070826-11
Release Date: 8/26/2007 4:00:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman John Scorza, USS Nimitz Public Affairs
USS PINCKNEY, At Sea (NNS) -- The Navy, Coast Guard and Air Force pooled their resources and people to perform a joint-operation at-sea rescue exercise during Valiant Shield 2007 in the vicinity of Guam Aug. 11.
USS Pinckney (DDG 91), USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) and USS Lake Erie (CG 10) along with the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Washington (WPB 1331) worked together to simulate the rescue of an Air Force Survival Evasion Resistance Escape specialist under hostile conditions.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Greg Adams from Operations Support Squadron 35, Misawa, Japan, simulated a pilot ejection with a water landing with the help of a rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) provided by Pinckney. The RHIB crew dropped Adams off in open waters at a location undisclosed to his rescuers as Pinckney remained close by to monitor.
"We're able to fall in the ocean and perform these types of missions without someone worrying about our capabilities," said Adams. "It's better to practice this now with all the safeties in place so in the event of a real rescue all assets are prepared for the real thing."
According to Lt. Abigail Hutchins, Pinckney operations officer, the operations were simulated in hostile territory. Lake Erie and George Washington simulated enemy forces.
"The Navy conducts large-scale operations with a lot of aircraft, increasing the likelihood of something happening," said Hutchins. "We need to know we can safely recover pilots."
Kitty Hawk played the role of rescuer for the event, providing an SH-60 Seahawk for the rescue evacuation as well as fighter escorts. Their mission was not only to rescue Adams, but to fend off the enemy ships during rescue operations.
"Our participation in this event provided us with an excellent training opportunity in which we utilized multiple military assets and worked jointly toward a common goal," said Lt. Cmdr. Jonathan C. Duffy, Pinckney executive officer. "The ability to rescue our fellow service men and women from any situation is vital."
Valiant Shield is a joint-service exercise that focuses on integrated joint training among U.S. military forces. The exercise enables real-world proficiency in sustaining joint forces and in detecting, locating, tracking and engaging units at sea, in the air, on the land and in cyberspace in response to a range of mission areas. Valiant Shield also provides a staff training opportunity for joint command and control of forces for the Hawaii-based Joint Task Force 519 staff and functional component commanders.
The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (CSG), along with John C. Stennis and Kitty Hawk CSGs and units from the Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, are participating in the weeklong exercise that includes more than 22,000 Sailors, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen.
Pinckney is currently deployed with the Nimitz CSG. The Nimitz CSG also includes embarked Destroyer Squadron 23; guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59); guided-missile destroyers USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53), USS Higgins (DDG 76), and USS Chafee (DDG 90); Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 49 "Scorpions," (HSL) 37 "Easy Riders" and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 11, Det. 15.
Commanded by Capt. Mike Manazir, Nimitz left its homeport of San Diego April 2 for a regularly-scheduled deployment and arrived in the U.S. 5th Fleet (C5F) area of operations in May. While operating in C5F, Carrier Air Wing 11 flew more than 2,600 sorties and 7,332 hours in support of troops on the ground participating in Operations Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraqi Freedom in Iraq before leaving the Persian Gulf in late July.
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