Bataan Makes ULTRA-C Preparations

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Erin Boyce, USS Bataan (LHD 5) Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va (NNS) -- The crew of the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) returned to Norfolk, Va. Oct. 22 following a week at sea preparing for an upcoming Unit Level Training Assessment for Certification (ULTRA-C).

During ULTRA-C, inspectors from Afloat Training Group (ATG) Mid-Atlantic will come aboard and review Bataan's training teams and crew in the areas of damage control, seamanship, medical readiness and combat systems.

The crew spent the week drilling in each of these areas. Each day underway, the schedule featured a total ships survivability exercise (TSSE), which included flexing all 10 of Bataan's repair lockers, elements of the ship's combat systems, a fully manned combat information center, and the ship's medical team.

"Everybody has a role to fulfill," said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Richard Rock, assistant leading petty officer of the medical department. "In any given scenario or drill, the integration of all the training teams will test the flexibility, capability and overall training of the crew to save and fight the ship."

In addition to proficiency, ATG inspectors will take a look at the crew's level of knowledge and qualifications, and evaluate a number of the ship's programs, including zone inspections and electrical safety.

Bataan's assistant damage control assistant, Lt. j.g. Robert Mayo said, starting, maintaining and finishing the week-long assessment with an strong, upbeat collective attitude will help carry the crew to success.

"The Sailors do a phenomenal job every time we have certifications to pass, and they demonstrated that throughout this week of training," said Mayo. "They always have great attitudes."

Although the crew picked up the pace of its preparations over the last week, Bataan's training teams provide consistent guidance and training year-round to keep the crew operating at high levels in all warfare areas.

"We've gone through several scenarios; integrated training team (ITT) training, stretcher bearer evaluations, and taken quick looks at our programs to gauge where we are at this time," said Rock.

He said he is 100-percent confident in the crew's ability to train, self assess and correct when necessary and that the combination of those three things will lead to success during ULTRA-C and moving forward.