Cooks from the Valley Grill Steaks for Lincoln Sailors

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kathleen L. Church, USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) enjoyed fresh steaks complements of Cooks from the Valley during a steel beach picnic on the ship's flight deck, July 5.

The all-volunteer, California-based organization brought more than 4,500 Harris Ranch, 12-ounce New York center-cut steaks to Lincoln Sailors to show appreciation for their service and to help them celebrate Independence Day at sea.

"The Cooks from the Valley feel it is a privilege to feed the Sailors," said Donald Collins, one of the organization's volunteers. "It is a chance for us to come out and see all of the Sailors' hard work and reward them for their efforts."

The steaks were transported to the ship, where the volunteers, with help from Sailors, marinated and seasoned the meat in preparation for the event.

"Grilling the steaks is our way of giving back to the Sailors," said Jeff Peters, another volunteer with Cooks from the Valley. "We make sure to purchase a high quality of steak so each Sailor eats the quality food they deserve."

Celebrating the holiday one day after the Fourth of July, Sailors also spent the afternoon relaxing and enjoying a variety of recreational events. They competed in a touch football game, raced remote control cars, hit golf balls off the fantail and listened to music.

"Not only did I get a chance to relax from work and see my friends, I got the chance to enjoy an absolutely amazing steak," said Airman Recruit Torri Wentz. "The cooks did a great job; the steak was the highlight of my day."

Cooks from the Valley volunteers also brought steaks to Sailors serving aboard guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) during a five-day visit to ships in the Arabian Sea.

Lincoln is the flagship for Carrier Strike Group (CSG) Nine, which is also comprised of embarked Carrier Air Wing Two, Cape St. George and Destroyer Squadron Nine. CSG-9 is in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and combat flight operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

USS James E. Williams Flexes Undersea Warfare Capabilities

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel J. Meshel, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Public Affairs

USS JAMES E. WILLIAMS, At Sea (NNS) -- Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) is participating in an integrated anti-submarine course (IAC) to certify Destroyer Squadron 2 (DESRON 2) during an ongoing composite unit training exercise (COMPTUEX) with the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, Jan. 26.

IAC is a series of exercises designed to effectively integrate all the surface and air assets involved in protecting aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) in a strike group setting. The successful completion of the exercises will certify DESRON 2 for the squadron's upcoming deployment.

"For our strike group, the high-value unit is the [Enterprise]," said Sonar Technician Chief George H. Hudson, USS James E. Williams leading sonar technician. "Whenever the carrier is engaged in operations, we position other units around the ship to protect it from attack."

"The Enterprise is a mobile air force and the cornerstone of our Navy," said Ensign Bryan D. Crosby, USS James E. Williams anti-submarine officer. "If we are incapable of protecting the Enterprise, which has hundreds of assets on board and thousands of people, then our forward presence is hindered."

Anti-submarine warfare encompasses a wide-range of tactical responses to potential undersea threats necessary in neutralizing hostile submarines, mines, and other dangers to protect high-value units and freedom of the seas.

"Submarines can block choke points and make commercial shipping near impossible," said Crosby. "They can also lay mines and render once navigable waters hostile."

Submarine stalking; engagements; and emergency maneuvers and evasions, are a few of the scenarios within IAC. These exercises provide an opportunity for participating ships to flex their warfare capabilities through an integrated perspective.

"Integration is always a challenge," said Crosby. "We all work for the strike group commander. He delegates his powers to a lot of other people. And it takes a lot of other intelligent people to get the job done."

Destroyers can be sent to operate autonomously by directive of the strike group commander. They can be designated a search and attack unit responsible for breaking away from the strike group for early detection of submarines.

Using combat acoustics, which is simply sound in water, destroyers are capable of detecting and analyzing surface and undersea contacts using sound, navigation and ranging (SONAR). These contacts can vary from marine animals to submarines.

"We man watches 24 hours a day," said Hudson. "We keep a surface picture of contacts that we actively track on our screens."

Hudson and Crosby also act as evaluators who are responsible for tactically employing SONAR to find threats. When a threat is found they place the ship or ships in their control into the most opportune environment to prosecute the threat.

"At any given time one ship can be in tactical control of several different ships and aircraft," said Crosby. "You're trying to utilize your assets to the utmost of their ability and extent."

While the goal of the exercise is to grant DESRON 2 operational certification, the exercise affords all vessels of the strike group to not only refine established skills, but to learn from any mistakes so they can operate at peak performance when deployed.

"We have 11 carriers," said Crosby. "We always want to keep 11 carriers so that we can be anywhere in the world in a moment's notice and deter any foreign aggression against friendly forces."

For news regarding USS Enterprise or the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, visit www.enterprise.navy.mil or the USS Enterprise Facebook page at www.facebook.com/USS.Enterprise.CVN.65 and follow us on Twitter @TheCVN65.

USS James E. Williams Participates in COMPTUEX

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel J. Meshel, Enterprise Strike Group Public Affairs

USS JAMES E. WILLIAMS, At Sea (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E Williams (DDG 95) is participating in a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) while underway in the Atlantic Ocean Jan. 16 to certify the ship for its upcoming fourth deployment.

The goal of the exercise is to integrate and assess the staff and individual units within the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, and to grant the strike group major operations certification upon completion.

"COMPTUEX is the last major battle group exercise that the James E. Williams will have before we deploy with the Enterprise Strike Group this spring," said Cmdr. Christopher M. Senenko, the commanding officer of James E. Williams.

"It's a last opportunity for the battle group to integrate, demonstrate all the mission sets we possibly may encounter on deployment, and get certification from the operational chain-of-command," said Senenko.

"The James E. Williams is underway with other forces, with live aircraft, live surface ships, and live submarines, flexing their combat systems in a real world type environment," said Cmdr. Luke L. Reinhold, the assistant maritime operations officer at Strike Force Training Command Atlantic.

COMPTUEX incorporates a myriad of missions to include air defense, maritime interdiction, and anti-submarine warfare.

"Just about every evolution in every warfare area is evaluated in some facet," said Reinhold. "The main objective is integrated training with the entire Strike Group and all the different staff and warfare commanders."

The COMPTUEX scenario involves a friendly ally at war in a highly volatile area prone to terrorism. Training vessels and personnel play the roles of hostile forces within each exercise.

These exercises not only help assess the operational readiness of each unit within the strike group, but also establish an element of situational realism that represents potential real threats the James E. Williams may encounter while deployed.

The exercises offer Sailors valuable experience operating the many different areas of the destroyer's assets; including weapons, navigation, and radar systems.

"For a lot of [Sailors] this is the first time they'll actually get to see their systems work against real assets and operate within an actual strike group scenario," said Reinhold.

"It's a great opportunity for the crew to practice their skills," said Senenko. "They're professionals, and this is why they joined the Navy.”

Enterprise Gets Underway for Final Qualifications

By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Stephen M. White, USS Enterprise Public Affairs

USS ENTERPRISE, At sea (NNS) -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) departed its homeport of Norfolk, Va., Jan. 11 to participate in a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX).

The early morning departure was the next to last departure from Naval Station Norfolk for the 50-year-old carrier. Enterprise is scheduled to enter deactivation after completing its 22nd and final deployment later this year.

COMPTUEX is the intermediate phase of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group's (CSG) Inter-Deployment Training Cycle (IDTC), designed to hone warfare skills throughout the strike group while maintaining unit proficiency.

"It's the final exercise to ensure Enterprise is combat ready," said Capt. William C. Hamilton, Jr, Enterprise commanding officer. "We're looking forward to working with the full strike group conducting combat exercises across the full spectrum of battle spaces."

COMPTUEX is designed to bring every part of a strike group together to work effectively and efficiently as one cohesive unit.

Hamilton says the exercise will require a total team effort from Enterprise, the embarked air wing and the more than 4,500 Sailors and Marines involved. Every department, division and work center, and every Sailor and Marine aboard Enterprise, from the engineering plants up to the flight deck, will play a vital role in the exercise.

The JTFEX will test the ship's ability, as well as that of its strike group, to operate in a complex, hostile environment with other U.S. and coalition forces.

"By the end of COMPTUEX and JTFEX, we will have a combat-ready strike group that will be ready to execute the Navy's mission anywhere in the world," said Rear Adm. Walter E. Carter, Jr., commander, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group. "Our goal is to ensure we are integrated as a team and to exceed our requirements for our combat operational efficiency."

The Enterprise Carrier Strike Group includes USS Enterprise (CVN 65), Carrier Air Wing 1, Destroyer Squadron 2, guided-missile cruiser USS Vicksburg (CG 69), guided-missile destroyers USS Porter (DDG 78), USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) and USS Nitze (DDG 94).

For more information about USS Enterprise, Carrier Strike Group 12 or Carrier Air Wing 1 visit www.Enterprise.navy.mil, www.ccsg12.surfor.navy.mil or www.cvw1.navy.mil.

U.S. Navy Welcomes Partners, Kicks off FRUKUS 2011

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Samantha Thorpe, USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Ships from Russia, France and the United Kingdom arrived at Naval Station Norfolk to participate in FRUKUS 2011 with the U.S. Navy off the coast of Virginia, June 20.

FRUKUS stands for the participating countries – France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States - and is a two-week interoperability exercise aimed to improve maritime security through open dialogue and increased training between the participating navies.

"FRUKUS 2011 provides the opportunity for personnel of all participating nations to engage in realistic and challenging maritime training to build experience, cooperation and teamwork," said U.S. Navy Capt. Peter Demane, commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26.

FRUKUS consists of two phases: ashore and at-sea. While ashore, Sailors from each ship will participate in training areas including damage control, fire fighting and ship handling. The at-sea portion, which begins next week, will provide critical training in maritime domain awareness, anti-piracy and maritime interdiction operations. A shore-based multinational combined task group staff will provide command and control for the ships during the at-sea phase.

Plenary sessions are scheduled to be conducted in parallel with the at-sea phase, where flag and senior officers from each country will attend daily discussions about maritime topics of interest to participants.

Planning for FRUKUS 2011 began in 2010 and included close coordination from representatives from each nation's navies and several defense agencies.

"We started planning for FRUKUS 2011 in December," said Lt. Jay Davis, staff planning officer for DESRON 26. "We worked closely with our partner nations to ensure the exercise is safe and successful."

Participating forces from the U.S. Navy include Commander Carrier Strike Group 10, Destroyer Squadron 26, and USS James E. Williams (DDG 95). International participants include the FS Ventose (F 733) from France, RFS Admiral Chabanenko (DD 650) from Russia, and HMS Dauntless (D 33) from the United Kingdom.