By
Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ryan J. Mayes, USS Nimitz Public
Affairs
SAN
DIEGO (NNS) -- The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), along with the ships
of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 11, are conducting force protection exercises
(FPX) that include similar scenarios built around the terrorist attack on USS
Cole (DDG 67).
With
what was supposed to be a routine stop for fuel, the USS Cole became a part of
naval history when a small boat attack that left a 40 foot by 40 foot gash in
the hull of the ship claimed the lives of 17 Sailors and injured 39 more.
This
would forever change the Navy's force protection practices and training.
Almost
12 years later to the date, Nimitz and CSG 11 are training to learn from that
attack. The lessons learned from that day have transformed how naval security
forces prepare and respond to threats while at home and abroad.
"It
was clear to me that the responding forces have been practicing their tactics,
techniques and procedures," said Rear Adm. Peter Gumataotao, commander CSG
11. "They did a great job at synchronizing their movements, and this
illustrates how everything we do now needs to take advantage of the integrated
force. As the ship moves into the composite training unit exercise, everything
is about integration. It's no longer about one single ship or unit."
In
an all-day training event administered by Third Fleet, the forces of CSG 11
responded to multiple scenarios including unauthorized surveillance, rioting
crowds, personnel-born improvised explosive devices (IED), small boat attacks
and vehicle born IEDs. The FPX is part of a pre-deployment certification that
every ship undergoes as it prepares for overseas operations. This particular
exercise was modeled after a 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
"This
was a fully integrated training effort," said Cmdr. Steven Richards,
anti-terrorism force protection officer of CSG 11. "We were tasked to
analyze and respond to multiple threats on two different pier facilities with
five of our ships. We went beyond what was required for our qualification and
certifications."
Realistic
training environments are key to the success of the evolutions. Mentally
drawing trainees into a scenario with accurate replication ensures they are
fully involved and creates a more natural response. Strategic Operations, a San
Diego based company, provided the makeup artists, props, costumes and simulated
explosives to create the hyper-realistic environment usually found in
Hollywood.
"It
was a phenomenal training evolution," said Richards. "Even with many
of the crew members playing the role of the opposing force, the realism was
incredible. This event incorporated a response from not only the security
forces but the medical team, damage control team and command and control
departments, all of which played an important role."
For
more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or
www.twitter.com/usnavy.
For
more news from USS Nimitz (CVN 68), visit www.navy.mil/local/cvn68/.
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