Bataan Completes ULTRA-C

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

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The Sailors aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) completed a three-day underway Oct. 29 and returned to their homeport of Norfolk after passing their unit level training assessment - certification (ULTRA-C).

ULTRA-C is the evaluation portion of a 20-week basic training phase, allowing the crew an opportunity to certify in every major warfare area by conducting graded drills ranging from firefighting and defending the ship in simulated combat situations, to administration and personnel management.

"We evaluated how well Bataan prepared themselves in the integrated and sustaining phase," said Lt. Kelvin Harkin, the training liaison officer for Afloat Training Group (ATG) Mid-Atlantic. "They came together, performed to the best of their ability and were successful."

"This crew knocked it completely out of the park, and I couldn't be more proud," said Capt. Steve Koehler, Bataan's commanding officer, as he addressed the crew over the ship's general announcing system. "I asked a whole lot of you this week and throughout the preparations leading up to it. As always, you delivered in true Bataan style."

Bataan Sailors have had ULTRA-C on their minds since early summer, and the final result was a culmination of focused training and teamwork.

"Since June or July, we have been drilling and working long hours preparing for this certification," said Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 1st Class (AW) Rodney Shaw, one of Bataan's damage control training team members. "[This week] Sailors' motivation was really high, and excitement was flowing throughout the ship."

While motivation wasn't on the grade sheet used by ATG Mid-Atlantic, it didn't go unnoticed.

"I loved the motivation from the Sailors who were out there; they made it happen," said Harkin. "They are the most motivated Sailors I've ever seen, from day one. Bataan is definitely setting the bar to a lot of ships as a model of how ULTRA-C is completed."

Bataan will continue training and making preparations for a scheduled 2011 deployment.