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Successful AT/FP Evaluation Ensures Kearsarge Crew’s Ability to Defend Itself Story Number: NNS041101-03
Release Date: 11/1/2004 3:02:00 PM
 By Journalist 3rd Class Liz Baross, USS Kearsarge Public Affairs NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- USS Kearsarge’s (LHD 3) Anti-terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) programs, training and crew were put to the test Oct. 18-22, successfully completing Afloat Training Group (ATG) Atlantic’s AT/FP Phase III evaluation.
The evaluation, which consisted of a series of drills and scenarios covering the gamut of AT/FP issues, tested the crew’s ability to combat a terrorist threat overseas.
Master-at-Arms 2nd Class (FMF) Matt Chastain attributed the ship's success to months of planning and training.
“We started planning and getting ready for these drills back in March,” said Chastain. “We started off with a lot of administrative work, such as making sure everyone’s qualifications were up to date and to assess what schools people had or needed.”
The next step was training and making sure all the watchstanders were briefed and prepared for these drills.
“We took a crew with very little force protection knowledge and built them up,” said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Nikki Hill. “We had to teach the crew how to do the master-at-arms job.”
In order to accomplish that, the ship drilled daily, running scenarios ranging from a small boat attack to an intruder on the quarterdeck.
Kearsarge’s Force Protection Training Team was directly involved in the drills, assisted by 10 Sailors who continually role-played the terrorists and intruders, to make sure that the drills were as realistic as possible.
“We took a brand new training team and taught them how to create, plan, train and evaluate the crew on force protection,” said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Michael Baxter. “This was also a great opportunity for us to train our new Sailors on proper force protection.”
"As watchstanders, we are put on watches to protect the ship, but we don’t always understand what that means,” added Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class John Kermgard. “These drills and the training that was taught to us gave us a higher level of confidence.
“I feel more prepared in knowing what to do if we get into a hostile situation,” he said.
Kearsarge, along with the rest of the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group, will have to complete one more drill cycle before getting under way for its six-month deployment, but this crew will be trained and ready for that.
“We pulled together as a team, said Cmdr. David Bement, Kearsarge’s C5I officer. “And if it wasn’t for the help of the whole crew, we couldn’t have been successful in accomplishing our goal.”
For related news, visit the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/lhd3. Related Stories:
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