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Blue Ridge Does ULTRA Well

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090411-03
Release Date: 4/11/2009 7:04:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Josh Cassatt, USS Blue Ridge Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- The amphibious-assault ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) proved its battle readiness by successfully completing unit-level training assessments (ULTRA) April 10, marking the end of a rigorous training cycle.

Inspectors from the Afloat Training Group (ATG) Western Pacific came aboard Blue Ridge to evaluate the ship in two separate areas of proficiency: engineering (ULTRA E) and certification (ULTRA C).

The purpose of the ULTRAs, conducted every two years, was to assess the ship's ability to effectively train its Sailors in several critical warfare areas. ULTRA E consisted of a week-long review of Blue Ridge's engineering and force protection cadre proficiency. ULTRA C was a week-long training schedule in the areas of damage control, seamanship, medical readiness and combat systems.

"The objectives of ULTRA E/C are to demonstrate all certification requirements across all applicable mission areas and be recommended for certification by ATG," said Master Chief Electronics Technician Mary Jo Campbell, Blue Ridge's assistant training officer. "ATG also validated our training team organization strengths and weaknesses and assessed watch team performance."

Certification in each ULTRA is a top priority for Blue Ridge because it proves the ship is meeting its training objectives.

"Getting certified in ULTRA E and C means our ship is ready to self-assess," said Lt. j.g. Danny Dorsey, Blue Ridge's training officer. "It shows that all of our training teams can effectively train our Sailors to perform their mission and keep the ship safe."

To pass the ULTRAs, the Blue Ridge training teams had to score their time figure of merit (TFOM) score sheets within a range of plus or minus 10 points of the ATG TFOM score sheets during each individual drill set.

Training teams graded the watchstanders while ATG graded the training teams. The plus or minus 10 points TFOM criteria also included Blue Ridge needing to score at least an 80 percent in the proficiency category of the TFOM.

"We evaluate each warfare area during our time on board," said Chief Information Systems Technician Benjamin Tomlin, an ATG afloat instructor. "It is our job to check how Blue Ridge performs and assess different warfare proficiencies and levels of readiness and training."

For Blue Ridge, passing the two ULTRA phases was a testament to the sacrifices its crew made to train during the course of several months.

Blue Ridge is commanded by Capt. Thom W. Burke and serves under Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force (CTF) 76, the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force. Blue Ridge is the flagship for Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. Task Force 76 is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.

For more news from USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), visit http://www.navy.mil/local/lcc19/.