Synthetic Training Sharpens Lincoln's Warfighting Skills

From USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Public Affairs

EVERETT, Wash. (NNS) -- Abraham Lincoln Strike Group participated in a three-day fleet synthetic training exercise July 7-9 in Everett, Wash., designed to challenge and refine the warfighting skills of its warfare commanders in a virtual environment.

Members from the San Diego-based Tactical Training Group, Pacific (TACTRAGRU) were on board USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) to mentor and place stimulus, or injects, into command display modules, which tested the warfare commanders and tactical watchstanders on their decision making abilities and their ability to communicate throughout the strike group.

TACTRAGRU's mission is to provide advanced training to warriors in order to improve their proficiency in warfighting and joint operations by presenting a challenging and timely curriculum designed to stimulate tactical thought and innovation.

"We are exercising the tactical decision makers in a realistic and stressful tactical training environment," said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Weber, a TACTRAGRU member on board Lincoln for the exercise. "We are pushing the tacticians to make correct decisions within the rules of engagement."

Another aspect of the training exercise was to ensure all strike group communications systems are fine-tuned and ready for extended operations at sea.

"The greatest value in this type of training is that we can do things through simulation that cannot be done through a real-world exercise," said Weber. "An added benefit is that by stressing real-world shipboard display and communications systems, we are able to identify and fix unforeseen problems while the ships are still in their work-up cycle."

The training encompassed all aspects of naval warfighting in a full-spectrum, tactical environment, from air and sea-space management to over-the-horizon warfare, in preparations for the strike group's upcoming, scheduled deployment.