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Porter Completes ULTRA-S Evaluation

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080111-04
Release Date: 1/11/2008 12:38:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Patrick Gearhiser, Kearsarge Strike Group Public Affairs

USS PORTER, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) completed the three day Unit Level Training Readiness Assessment - Sustainment (ULTRA-S) evaluation Dec. 30. ULTRA-S assesses a ship's ability to train itself with the aid of an outside observer.

A team of twenty-four evaluators arrived aboard Porter Dec. 28 via helicopter and began the assessment with engineering evolutions that culminated in a general quarters drill on the 30th.

"They first find out where we stand with our efficiency, personnel, materiel and management," said Lt. j.g. Nick Rygiel, Porter's Training Officer. "Their objective is to evaluate the individual training areas to ensure that those trainers are prepared."

In order to prepare the ship's crew for ULTRA-S, the Sailors train continually throughout the year by performing various drills. Rygiel, as training officer, is the person in charge of overseeing and monitoring the drills to ensure Porter Sailors complete the training adequately.

"My job is to make sure I provide each person aboard with the information and guidance they need to do their jobs," Rygiel continued. "Success in ULTRA-S or any training evaluation in general relies on every single person. It is everyone's dedication and motivation that allows Porter to stand out."

Lt. Cmdr. Robert Rinas, the logistics and materiel officer for the Kearsarge Strike Group (KSG) and the ULTRA-S evaluator in charge of the engineering and damage control exercises, had nothing but praise for the Porter and its crew.

"Porter is doing excellent," Rinas said. "They have achieved very good evaluation scores and their materiel condition is outstanding, as well as their level of knowledge. The pride and professionalism displayed by the personnel aboard is exemplary. It is very clear that on board Porter they have worked to develop their people."

Rygiel attributes this success to the fact that everyone onboard was able to work as a team.

"Porter, as a team, knew what they had to demonstrate [knowledge and proficiency] without any prompting from the assessors," Rygiel said. "This made it easy for the assessors to quickly and efficiently assess most of the ship's events in the first day and a half. I am grateful to be a part of a group of people that really care about what they do."

Porter is currently on deployment as part of the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group.

For more news from Commander, Amphibious Squadron 8, visit www.navy.mil/local/phibron8/.