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High-Tech Strike Group Training Facility Opens at Dam Neck

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080303-17
Release Date: 3/3/2008 2:17:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Derek Poole, Fleet Public Affairs Center Atlantic

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Rear Adm. Donald P. Quinn, commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of Distributed Training Center Atlantic (DTCL) at Naval Air Station Oceana, Dam Neck Annex Feb 28.

The first-of-its-kind facility is the main Atlantic hub for Navy Continuous Training Environment, which links to ships at sea or in port to provide a variety of virtual and live systems that create mock war games and scenarios. The DTCL was created to address the rapidly expanding technical requirements associated with integrated distributed live and synthetic training.

"The training prepares a ship for all warfare aspects. You can do piracy operations, air defense, surface warfare, and anything that the Navy needs to be trained for," said Senior Chief Operations Specialist (SW/AW) Angel Alvorado, senior enlisted advisor for DTCL.

After a brief speech from Quinn and DTCL leadership, special guests and media were allowed to tour the facility and ask questions from DTCL subject matter experts.

"Before we had synthetic training, ships had to get underway to do training exercises," said Operations Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Norkesha Jackson, assistant leading petty officer at DTCL. "Now the training can be held from wherever the ship is whether it is in port or not."

Although DTCL is a powerful training tool for the Navy, other armed forces can benefit. The Army, Air Force, and allied forces can use the virtual training to simulate a joint forces mission.

The synthetic training system offered by the DTCL costs only a tenth of what a traditional training cruise would.

"The synthetic training will improve mission readiness and lead to a better trained strike group to go and do the nations will," said Cmdr. Keith Payne, DTCL director. "They're able to practice tactics, techniques, and procedures they'll be using in theater, in port, or ashore on their own equipment. If the ship is ashore, we save money on fuel, food, and other costs associated with running a ship."

For more news from Naval Air Station Oceana, visit www.navy.mil/local/oceana/.