{"id":29015,"date":"2019-05-06T10:30:40","date_gmt":"2019-05-06T10:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/05\/06\/the-us-surface-fleet-is-shaking-up-how-it-readies-ships-for-deployment\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:12:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:12:44","slug":"the-us-surface-fleet-is-shaking-up-how-it-readies-ships-for-deployment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/05\/06\/the-us-surface-fleet-is-shaking-up-how-it-readies-ships-for-deployment\/","title":{"rendered":"The US surface fleet is shaking up how it readies ships for deployment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. Navy\u2019s top surface warfare officer is changing how his crews prepare for deployment<\/a> with an eye toward more quickly certifying ships and freeing up schedules so ships\u2019 commanders can spend more time participating in customized training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The surface Navy previously used the training command Afloat Training Group and the assessment command Engineering Assessments Pacific to certify that a crew is trained and ready to conduct all missions that might come up during deployment. Those commands would also ensure engineering spaces were safe to operate and that the sailors operating them were properly trained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But those assessments happened at different times, and the sailors who performed during the actual certifications were the most junior sailors, as the more senior sailors were part of the shipboard training team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here for more stories, videos and interviews from Sea-Air-Space!<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But recent changes to the Surface Force Training and Readiness Manual means ships can now more quickly be certified, said Vice Adm. Richard Brown, the head of naval surface forces in the Pacific.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the surface warfare community we would certify the most junior and least experienced watch standers during the training cycle because all your senior guys were on the training team,\u201d he said in a recent telephone interview with Defense News. \u201cWe had this concept called \u2018train the trainers,\u2019 and the trainers would train the junior watch standers. But what was the reality? If the bubble went up, all those senior guys are going to take the watch. They\u2019re not going to put green hats on and say: \u2018Hey, you\u2019re not engaging that missile!\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One significant change is that instead of Afloat Training Group coming aboard a ship to assess training teams comprised of those on board, who in turn train junior watch standers, the group comes on board and certifies the more senior watch standers first, then it transitions to training teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis means the senior, experienced folks on the ship are certified watch standers,\u201d Brown said. \u201cAnd since you know most of those folks will transition to the training teams. Now you have a great sense that those folks not only know how to stand the watch \u2014 they can adequately train junior sailors in accordance with the watch team replacement plan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another change is that the Afloat Training Group and engineering assessment teams have merged and are simultaneously coming aboard the ships. This ensures that the group and the assessors are on the same page and are holding the ships to the same standard. It also means the assessments get done faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\t