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Enterprise Strike Group, Coalition Forces Complete FST-J Exercise

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101115-05
11/15/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Robert J. Guerra, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Strike Group (ENTSG) remained pier-side as it completed a two-week Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint Exercise (FST-J) with coalition forces Nov. 12.

FST-J allowed U.S. Navy, British, Canadian and German forces to coordinate battle operations through the use of a virtual environment designed to simulate at-sea conflict scenarios.

Duplicating environmental conditions, political situations, topography and military presence, ENTSG maximized its tactical proficiency and integrated U.S. allies into the combat exercise.

"By training together with coalition forces, it puts the strike group in a better position when the time comes to deploy," said Charles W. Kennard, Tactical Training Group Atlantic (TTGL) wargame director. "The training gives the [strike] group a better understanding how coalition forces will react, because collectively we have to solve the same problems."

The exercise's synthetic environment facilitates U.S. and coalition forces' ability to work, learn and prepare together for theater operations without having to operate at sea.

"FST allows staff and warfare commanders to develop tactics, techniques and procedures before going to sea, making time at sea more efficient," said Capt. Robert Brown, TTGL commanding officer. "Working through these scenarios ashore allows ships at sea to focus time and resources on the operational training requirements such as navigation and engineering drills, which cannot be accomplished in port."

The synthetic training also offers dynamic, flexible on-demand training events that save time, money and manpower compared to traditional at-sea exercises, enabling the strike group to meet more objectives and see tremendous return on investment.

"For a fraction of the cost of a single day at sea, you can run an entire two-week synthetic exercise," said Kennard. "By replicating the real world environment you can offer more robust training scenarios and also round out your forces."

However, FST-J's benefits go beyond just dollars and cents.

"The training allows for an increased awareness of operational practices for both strike group and coalition forces," said Lt. Cmdr. Robert E. Laverty, Royal navy group warfare officer. "It presents us with an alternative way of looking at things and a different way of approaching problems."

Synthetic training helps many critical skill sets, but primarily develops the admiral, warfare commanders and operators' decision making in testing the validity of pre-planned responses, said Kennard.

The ability to tailor unit-specific scenarios in a synthetic environment while simultaneously maintaining cost effectiveness makes FST-J an invaluable tool for both U.S. and coalition forces. The synthetic training is not meant to replace time at sea but is used as a tool to enhance the effectiveness of training both in port and underway.

Through the use of synthetic training U.S. and coalition forces have been able to solve real-world problems and strengthen the capabilities of our forward-deployed forces. ENTSG and coalition forces have successfully moved forward together without the need to ever leave the pier.

"It [FST-J] offers a level of training we don't have in the U.K.," said Laverty. "It's a great tool to use. It's been an enjoyable experience working with our closest allies."

Enterprise Strike Group consists of Enterprise, the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 56), the guided-missile destroyers USS Bulkeley (DDG 84), USS Barry (DDG 52) and USS Mason (DDG 87), USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8), Carrier Air Wing 1 and Destroyer Squadron 2.