{"id":44658,"date":"2019-02-27T02:41:17","date_gmt":"2019-02-27T02:41:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/02\/27\/why-the-lincoln-and-her-strike-group-are-waiting-for-their-exercise-grades\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:52:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:52:29","slug":"why-the-lincoln-and-her-strike-group-are-waiting-for-their-exercise-grades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/02\/27\/why-the-lincoln-and-her-strike-group-are-waiting-for-their-exercise-grades\/","title":{"rendered":"This strike group is still waiting for its COMPTUEX grades"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NORFOLK \u2014 After 26 consecutive days of virtual war in the Atlantic, the seven ships of the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group<\/a> returned to Naval Station Norfolk on Saturday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So they\u2019ve taken taken all the tests in their Composite Unit Training Exercise to get certified for a deployment overseas \u2014 only their grades aren\u2019t in. Yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s because Navy officials are finishing the necessary paperwork and debriefings before getting a final stamp of approval from Adm. Christopher Grady, the four-star who helms U.S. Fleet Forces Command here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now with the resurrection of 2nd Fleet<\/a>, the strike group\u2019s chain of command also must go through Vice Adm. Andrew \u201cWoody\u201d Lewis, and he gets a vote on whether the crews passed or failed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lewis is awaiting a brief from Carrier Strike Group 4<\/a> commander Rear Adm. Kenny Whitsell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His Norfolk-based command creates, executes and then assesses how well the crews performed in a scenario that was thrown at the Lincoln and the aircraft carrier\u2019s squadrons and warship escorts, according to Cmdr. Charles Drey, spokesman for the training strike group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThose briefs have not yet occurred,” Drey told Navy Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\t