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U.S. Fleet Forces Commander Sees Training Firsthand in Dahlgren

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS100721-17
7/21/2010

By Kimberly M. Lansdale, Center for Surface Combat Systems Public Affairs

DAHLGREN, Va. (NNS) -- Adm. John C. Harvey, Jr., commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) visited the Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) and Aegis Training and Readiness Center (ATRC), Dahlgren, Va., July 16, to observe firsthand the blended training curriculum taught to students.

Afterwards, he went to visit the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program and Navy Air and Missile Defense Command (NAMDC) to discuss Fleet systems and training requirements.

During his visit Harvey visited classrooms, training labs and simulators, while taking time to speak with students, and Aegis system instructors, who teach the operation, maintenance, and the employment of the Aegis Weapon System (AWS) found aboard U.S. Navy Aegis cruisers and destroyers.

"CSCS and ATRC is our most critical Navy training site," said Harvey.

Since 1984, ATRC has trained Sailors, in the schoolhouse and afloat, for a life and service in Aegis Surface combatant ships to conduct maritime air and missile defense operations around the world.

"Admiral Harvey visited CSCS and ATRC because he wants to have a better understanding of the support and accountability in place for the training configuration and combat skills relative to our people," said Capt. Stephen Hampton, commanding officer, CSCS. "The admiral took his invaluable time today to speak directly with deckplate AWS instructors, students, commanding officers, and department heads to gain better insight to fleet requirements and the training challenge to meet those requirements. We are challenged by today's foundational Aegis capability as we buy more complex, and more capable systems."

Today, ATRC strives to improve the quality of training, both in the school and on the waterfront. More than 700 courses for various systems, equipment, variants and baselines are offered. Electronic lesson plans, distance learning, learning resource centers, and simulation training are facilitating Sailors to meet new training challenges and needs of the U.S. Navy.

"It was very valuable to have the Admiral visit and observe the schoolhouse and the challenges we face, as well as sit down with our students," said Capt. Russ Haas, commanding officer, ATRC.

"The admiral's visit was a huge success in terms of improving his understanding of the issues and potential solution sets to meet capability expectations," said Hampton. "He wanted deck plate recommendations and a sense of the schoolhouse as he forms his decisions on what choices to make to ensure his fleets' capability."