CSG 1 Completes Composite Training Unit Exercise

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Brent Pyfrom

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- PACIFIC OCEAN-- Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 1 successfully completed a Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the coast of Southern California June 2.

COMPTUEX, led by CSG 15, is an exercise that evaluated CSG 1's ability to react to live-training scenarios as an integral unit throughout every warfare area including sub surface, surface and air.

"These ships and the crews are very well prepared for deployment," said Capt. Paul Mackley, CSG 15 operations officer.

During the exercise, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) simulated a straits transit with other ships from the strike group, participated in replenishments at sea, vertical replenishments, and ran several general quarters drills. COMPTUEX is the capstone of the integrated training phase for the strike group.

"Normally, as the ships and squadrons train, they train as individual units," Mackley said. "This is the first time we brought them all together to see if they could operate as a team."

Following a year and a half of preparation involving the basic training phase, CSG 1 began COMPTUEX on May 13.

"One of the biggest and most complex events we did during COMPUTUEX was flight operations. We coordinated missions through the various warfare commanders that we have in the strike group," said Cmdr. Steve Delanty, CSG 1 operations officer.

The exercise required the entire strike group to defeat simulated adversaries across all spectrums of warfare.

With the successful completion of COMPTUEX, CSG 1 moves into final preparations for deployment this summer as it continues with its Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) through June 9, an exercise led by U.S. Third Fleet. JTFEX is an integrated battle force exercise designed to test the capabilities of carrier strike groups operating with multinational forces in a joint environment. It is the culmination of a series of exercises and training requirements and readies the strike group for challenges it may encounter while deployed.

CSG 1 comprises Vinson and its embarked air power, Carrier Air Wing 17, along with the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) and the guided-missile destroyers USS Gridley (DDG 101), USS Sterett (DDG 104), and USS Dewey (DDG 105).

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Eastern Pacific from the West Coast of North America to the international date line and provides the realistic, relevant training necessary for an effective global Navy.