SURFACE FORCE TRAINING MANUAL

CHAPTER 6

REPORTS

SECTION 1

TRAINING READINESS REPORTING GUIDELINES

 

Ref: (a) NWP 1-03.3 (Rev. A) (Status of Resources and Training System (SORTS))

(b) COMNAVSURFPACINST 3501.2G/COMNAVSURFLANTINST 3500.7D (SORTS Readiness Reporting)

6101. General. SORTS readiness reporting is as directed in references (a) and (b). Paragraphs 6103-6109 below discuss the methodology by which mission area readiness ratings are determined.

6102. Definitions

a. TRMS - TYCOM Readiness Management System (TRMS). COMNAVSURFLANT and COMNAVSURFPAC transitioned to a new software program for readiness reporting in 1995 known as TRMS. TRMS incorporates several improvements over the previous reporting system. TRMS also facilitates data base record-keeping aboard ship and attendant training readiness reporting. Operator manuals provide detailed information for system implementation and operation. Some new capabilities of TRMS are:

(1) An expanded 12 digit exercise code field.

(2) Speed search of exercise codes.

(3) Automatic dual reporting of related line items.

(4) Direct readout of the effect of "caps" on mission area readiness.

(5) A "reconcile differences" option in the ship software base, which allows for periodic updates from TYCOM.

(6) Production of a formatted TRNGREP message.

b. TRNGREP - Training Report. A message report of completion of training exercises and other reportable readiness evolutions and inspections. This message updates the readiness database within the Readiness Module of TRMS.

6103. Training M-Ratings Basic, intermediate, and advanced phase evolutions are to be completed once during each work-up and deployment cycle. Accordingly, the "clock" in the TRMS computer program has been set at 24 months for these evolutions. An uncompleted evolution is reflected as M4. A satisfactorily completed evolution reported by TRNGREP is reflected as M1, with the effective date being the date the evolution was completed. If for any reason, an evolution is conducted again during the work-up or deployment cycle, the ship should report the new completion date by TRNGREP.

6104. Initial Work-up. A ship completing overhaul or a major maintenance availability of six months or longer, or a newly commissioned ship will normally have all of the training syllabus to complete, i.e. all required exercises will be reflected as M4 in TRMS. Ships are encouraged to report training that is accomplished during overhaul by TRNGREP. However, individual mission area M-ratings will be reported as M5 and CRTNG will be reported as C5 in SORTS until completion of overhaul. As exercises and other evolutions are successfully completed and reported by TRNGREP, their M-rating will go to M1 and will remain at M1 until the "clock" expires or until specifically changed. The result of incrementally completing the syllabus is a steady rise in M-ratings until M1 in each mission area is achieved.

6105. Repetitive Training

a. Repetitive exercises provide continued training in skills attained during the basic, intermediate, or advanced phases. Repetitive exercises are reported by TRNGREP. Once reported, the repetitive "clock" begins, and the M-rating will degrade to M2, M3, and M4 at specified intervals.

b. Dual Reporting. Exercises required in more than one phase of the basic, intermediate, and advanced (BIA) syllabus, and additionally as repetitive training exercises, are identified in TRMS by separate line item for each iteration. An exercise appearing more than once in the BIA syllabus (e.g., in basic and intermediate phases) is explicitly intended to be accomplished and reported as a separate and distinct evolution. The repetitive iteration of this exercise may be reported as accomplished each and every time it is satisfactorily completed in the BIA syllabus. This feature will automatically be implemented by the TRMS program. The effect of this "dual reporting" is to set the repetitive clock at M1 so as not to depress readiness ratings artificially during the BIA workup.

 

6106. Resets

a. As discussed in Section 2 of Chapter 2 to this manual, the CART process may result in a specific reset of exercises to either M1 or M4, depending on whether or not the capabilities they represent were successfully demonstrated during CART Phase II. Once the CART is completed and the ISIC has concurred with the proposed resets, the ship will submit (within ten working days) a TRNGREP reflecting the CART resets with the CART Phase II exercises.

b. As a result of personnel turnover and consequent degradation in operational experience, a commanding officer may determine that the team skills acquired in a previously completed training exercise are no longer extant. In such cases, the unit may, by TRNGREP entry, delete the prior completion of that evolution. The effect will be to set the M-rating for that exercise to M4. The more exercises reset to M4 the lower the overall mission area rating will fall.

c. The ISIC is specifically charged with directing the unit to make such a deletion and to repeat an exercise or exercises when, in the ISIC's judgment, the skills associated with the training are not being demonstrated.

6107. Equivalencies. Many unit operations, though not explicitly and formally structured for syllabus training, provide the same or similar training opportunities as the regular syllabus exercise requirements. A unit progressing through the training work-up of the syllabus may consider that a required evolution need not be conducted because the skills normally acquired during that training evolution have already been satisfactorily demonstrated. FXP exercise descriptions are general in nature and not tailored to specific ship classes. An equivalency may be granted when the objective of the exercise is essentially fulfilled even if some element of the exercise is not accomplished or is beyond an individual unit's capability. Authority to grant equivalencies is vested in the ISIC and applies to all exercises except actual weapon firings (except as noted in subparagraphs (d) and (e) of this article). The following considerations apply to requests for granting of equivalencies:

a. Certain evolutions such as team trainers and off ship training assessment should be considered in the following context:

(1) Negligible personnel/key team member turnover since last completion of the evolution.

(2) Recent unit operations have exercised a specific warfare mission area/team skill such that the trainer is not considered necessary.

(3) Operational commitments may also preclude use of a specific team trainer but use of outside training assistance (e.g., ATG observers, ISIC staff, etc.) for on board reinforcement of team skills is sufficient to satisfy the exercise objective.

b. Appendix C contains detailed guidance on pre-approved equivalencies for shore-based/on board/embedded trainers and selected training vans.

c. Upon ISIC approval, the ship will report the evolution as an unscored equivalent by TRNGREP. Although claiming equivalencies can benefit the unit by acknowledging training benefits received not in an operational environment, equivalencies should be used cautiously and, when approved and reported, should be based on a deliberate evaluation that the training exercise in question is adequately represented by the equivalency and that the objectives of the exercise were essentially met.

d. Equivalencies for simulated USW weapons firings are authorized for PACFLT ships if the following criteria are met:

(1) Operations shall be conducted on an instrumented range.

(2) The ship shall track and conduct simulated attacks on a target. All USW teams must be exercised (multiple runs required).

(3) Range control/observer will provide Probability of Kill (PK) based upon ship/target geometry at the time of simulated firing and UBFCS setting. Grades should be assigned using applicable grading criteria.

(4) Actual firing procedures should be followed (i.e. air slugs fired through SVTT, LAMPS achieving attack criteria).

(5) For scoring, the best run of the day may be used. A constructive hit must be adjudged.

e. Equivalencies for AAW-11/18/19/27-SF may be obtained for Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) (also known as Post Delivery Test and Trials (PDT&T), and Post ROH Test and Trial (PRT&T), Developmental Test (DT) and Operational Test (OT) firings under the following conditions:

(1) Equivalency request, with ISIC endorsement, is received by TYCOM with sufficient advance notification to allow training and technical communities adequate preparation time to script scenarios which accommodate both test and training objectives.

(2) Tactically oriented training is provided to the crew for the firing.

(3) CSSQT/DT/OT missile firings are not solely a combat systems equipment certification or engineering test and are not beyond expected system performance.

(4) Applicable target and profile described for the exercise for which equivalency is requested are flown during the firing presentation.

(5) No safety violations occur in conducting any portion of the missile firing.

(6) Observer requirements of paragraph A-107 are met.

 

6108. Additional Guidelines

a. All exercises conducted under the cognizance of the ATG will be reported per the sample TRNGREP provided in paragraph 6204.

b. Capping

(1) The computation of the mission area readiness factor is based solely on satisfactory completion of a percentage of a unit's mission area exercise syllabus. All exercises/evolutions in the syllabus are weighted equally. Due to this structuring, overall percentages often do not give a true indication of actual combat readiness. Therefore certain critical standards have been selected so that a degraded readiness will be indicated unless proficiency in these selected events is demonstrated. Failure to conduct one of these events will override the normal C/M-rating computation process. These overrides act as a "cap" on the SORTS reported training resource element regardless of the numerical rating indicated in a unit's TRMS database. The TRMS program will automatically impose these CAPS if required criteria are not satisfied. Appendix B contains TYCOM guidance on training resource rating "caps" to be applied when units have deficiencies in certain mission area requirements.

(2) Reference (a) states that, "the failure of a major inspection, such as ORSE, will result in an initial status category of 4 for appropriate mission area, and an initial category of 4 in the training and/or equipment resource area as appropriate." The ISIC should ensure that the readiness reflected for a particular primary mission area is consistent with the ship's performance in related inspections/evolutions. Appendix B contains TYCOM guidance as to training resource rating "caps" to be applied when units have indicated deficiencies in certain critical evolutions.

c. Entering Overhaul. Coincident with the submission of a CROVL C5 SORTS report at the beginning of a regular overhaul and with the concurrence of the ISIC, the type commander will perform the necessary action to "zero out" all training evolution completion entries in the individual unit TRA.