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USS Vincennes Sailors Become Seaworthy With TSTA
Story Number: NNS040129-11
Release Date: 1/30/2004 12:35:00 AM
By Journalist 3rd Class Brock Taylor, Naval Media Center Fleet Support Detachment Yokosuka
ABOARD USS VINCENNES, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard USS Vincennes (CG 49) are getting themselves and their ship better prepared for combat with the aid of a Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA).
Yokosuka’s Afloat Training Group (ATG) Western Pacific (WP) embarked the ship before it left port Jan. 24 to guide and train Vincennes Sailors with various shipboard scenarios during TSTA. TSTA will also strengthen weaknesses found during the ship’s Command Assessment of Readiness and Training 2, held in December.
"It's basically a ‘train the trainers’ concept. We work with the ship's training team to assist them so they can take that training with them when ATG departs after the first phase,” said Lt. Scott Bailey, training liaison officer for ATG-WP.
A couple hours after getting underway from Yokosuka, the crew began its first TSTA-assisted training evolution, a towing exercise (TOWEX). During TOWEX, Vincennes got a “lift” from USS John S. McCain (DDG 56). Although the evolution was a first for many, everyone, from junior Sailors in deck division to senior watchstanders on the bridge, maintained determination throughout the six-hour exercise.
"Honestly, I think they've done a great job. Even though they weren't getting graded, they worked just as hard to complete the evolution,” said Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Joseph Hoffman from ATG-WP.
Other TSTA scenarios included an underway replenishment, man overboard drills, general quarters, and a visit board search and seizure (VBSS) drill using USNS Yukon (T-AO 202) as a suspect vessel. With every training scenario, members from ATG-WP were there to guide, assist and provide feedback.
"They (ATG-WP) basically observe, they take a lot of notes during the combat systems training team scenario and they ask input from every team member,” said Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class Chuck Wells, a Vincennes Sailor.
Wells has been aboard for almost two years, and this is his first TSTA.
"[ATG-WP] takes a look at how we do things as far as what we’re supposed to do in a given scenario, as compared to how we react. I'm pleased to say that so far, we've done pretty good. We've been trained well, executed well, and any discrepancy that they have found has been minor,” Wells added.
This is only the first phase of TSTA for Vincennes. According to Bailey, TSTA will take the ship into several more phases until it's ready for its Final Evaluation Problem in March.
"The biggest part of preparing is to continue maintaining a watchful eye on training and keeping their maintenance up. That, in itself, will help ships prepare better for re-entering the basic phase," Bailey concluded.
ATGWP is expected to provide TSTA to approximately 19 other U.S. 7th Fleet ships in the coming year.
For related news, visit the Commander 7th Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/c7f.
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