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Carrier faces 6-month gap after JTFX

ABOARD THE CARRIER HARRY S. TRUMAN — Sailors from the carrier Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group expect to be “surge ready” for a six-month gap between the end of their capstone exercise in September and their extended deployment, scheduled for March.

That gap between their Joint Task Force Exercise and deployment is significantly longer than the typical two to three months for most strike groups. The change will likely require additional training beyond the JTFX, the Navy’s largest and most complex training exercise.

“We won’t call it a JTFX. The Navy loves acronyms, so we’ll probably call it ‘sustain-ex’ or something like that,” said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, the strike group’s commander.

The strike group had been expected to deploy this fall. But the Navy recently shifted strike group schedules after recognizing that the 48-year-old carrier Enterprise will have to remain in the shipyard four months longer than expected.

The schedule changes extended the Truman and Nimitz strike groups’ deployment from six months to eight months to cover the Enterprise gap. Nimitz deployed in July.

Rear Adm. Garry White, the commander of Strike Force Training Atlantic, agreed that additional training time will be needed.

“We’ll just plug in an at-sea time or a synthetic event to make sure they’re ready to deploy,” White said.

Pilots will have to fly more often in order to maintain their “surge ready” capability.

Aviators will have to practice carrier landings at sea later this year, and also spend some time at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev., for additional training, said Capt. Andrew Lewis, commander of Carrier Air Wing 3.

Some sailors were disappointed to hear about the schedule changes.

“I was ready to go on the cruise. I was ready to make some money and get it done,” said Aviation Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class Ryan Cuppernall.

Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Nathan Ackerman lamented the schedule change that would leave him out at sea during the summer months.

“I enjoy my summers. Missing Christmas is not all that big a deal, but I like my summers.”

Time at sea

Truman deployments, since 2002

• December 2002-May 2003 (6 months)

• October 2004-March 2005 (6 months)

• November 2007-May 2008 (7 months)

• March-November 2010 (8 months, estimated)

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