U.S. Navy Ships Participating in an Independent Deployer Certification Exercise (IDCERTEX)

From Commander, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- Five U.S. Navy ships commenced an independent deployer certification exercise (IDCERTEX) in the Southern California and Hawaii operating areas. The exercise runs Feb. 9-20.

IDCERTEX provides a multi-ship environment to train and certify independent deployers in surface warfare, air defense, maritime interception operations, command and control/information warfare, command, control, computers and combat systems intelligence and mine warfare.

The exercise, led by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet (C3F) and executed by Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 15, includes the guided-missile cruisers USS Lake Champlain (CG 57), USS Chosin (CG 65), the guided-missile destroyers USS Preble (DDG 88), USS Chafee (DDG 90) and the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1).

Chosin, Preble and Chafee are conducting their training in the Hawaii operating area, while Lake Champlain and Freedom are participating off the coast of Southern California.

IDCERTEX serves as CSG 15's final opportunity to evaluate and certify Preble, Chafee and Sailors from USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) Crew 102, embarked aboard Freedom, across multiple warfare areas prior to regularly scheduled deployments.

IDCERTEX begins with unit-level training specific to the ship that requires training in shipboard firefighting, man-overboard drills, visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS), and other ship specific training. The integrated phase involves training between multiple ships and aircraft and consists of flight operations, submarine tracking, strait transit formations, replenishment-at-sea and other required mission evolutions.

"Our primary responsibility is to ensure these ships are certified and ready to execute a wide variety of missions while deployed," said Rear Adm. Joseph Kuzmick, commander of CSG 15. "We look forward to watching Preble, Chafee and Fort Worth Crew 102 operate in a multi-ship environment with advanced warfare scenarios."

Several supporting staffs are involved in IDCERTEX including Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific, Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 31, Marine Aircraft Group 24, Hawaii Air National Guard and the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade.