USS Harry S. Truman team begins final exam before deployment

NNS4702. USS Harry S. Truman team begins final exam before
deployment
By USS Harry S. Truman public affairs
    USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) - With months of
preparation under their collective belts, the Sailors and
Marines of the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Carrier Battle
Group prepare for one final hurdle as they begin Joint Task
Force Exercise (JTFEX) 01-1.
    JTFEX is the culmination of pre-deployment training that
began for the carrier as independent operations and carrier
qualifications, progressed through the integration of the
carrier's air wing (Carrier Air Wing 3), and finally
operations as the centerpiece of a carrier battle group.
Successful completion of JTFEX will result in certification
that the carrier battle group is ready to commence its
maiden deployment, scheduled to begin in late November.
    The exercise will involve not just the Truman Battle
Group and the USS Nassau (LHA 4) Amphibious Ready Group
(also scheduled to deploy in late November). JTFEX 01-1 will
also involve personnel from the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard - about 30,000 U.S.
service members in all.
    In addition, the NATO exercise "Unified Spirit" will run
concurrently with the JTFEX, with forces from Canada,
Denmark, France, Germany and the United Kingdom playing
major roles. Most NATO nations are expected to contribute
some personnel to the exercise.
    This kind of joint and combined training enhances the
readiness of both United States and allied forces, and is
representative of the way nations often assign forces to
deal with modern crises today. The exercise will take place
in the waters off the U.S. East Coast, as well as the Puerto
Rican operating area. Only U.S. forces will use the inner
range facilities on Vieques Island, and will operate with
only inert weapons at Vieques.
    Forces will train in a simulated high-threat environment
that involves air, naval and ground operations,
incorporating surveillance, reconnaissance and other
operations such as maritime interdiction, embassy support
and non-combatant evacuation. The realistic scenario being
used in the exercise incorporates many of the challenges the
Truman Battle Group and Nassau Amphibious Ready Group may
encounter during their upcoming deployment.
    This will be the first deployment for USS Harry S.
Truman, which was commissioned in 1998. In addition to the
carrier and embarked air wing, the Truman Battle Group
includes the guided missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56);
the guided missile destroyers USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51),
USS Mitscher (DDG 57) and USS Porter (DDG 78); the
destroyers USS Stump (DD 978) and USS Deyo (DD 989); the
guided missile frigate USS Carr (FFG 52); the ammunition
ship USNS Mount Baker (T-AE 34); the replenishment oiler
USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196); and the attack submarines USS
Alexandria (SSN 757) and USS Norfolk (SSN 714).
    JTFEX 01-1/Unified Spirit will be conducted by the
Commander, 2nd Fleet and Commander, Striking Fleet Atlantic,
embarked aboard the command ship USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20).
     USS Harry S. Truman is commanded by Capt. David L.
Logsdon.
    For more information about USS Harry S. Truman and other
carriers of the Atlantic Fleet, go to
http://www.airlant.navy.mil/carriersbar.htm.
    For general information about carriers, destroyers,
frigates and submarines, go to http://www.navy.mil.
    For information about oilers and ammunition ships, go to
the web site of the Military Sealift Command at
http://www.msc.navy.mil.
                            -USN-