Carrier Strike Groups Feel the Pulse
USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) arrived in Pearl Harbor Tuesday to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific Maritime 2004, the region’s largest international exercise involving seven Pacific Rim nations. The 1,092-foot long aircraft carrier deployed from its homeport in San Diego May 24 as part of Summer Pulse ’04.
Summer Pulse ’04 demonstrates the Navy’s ability to surge forces around the globe, with seven aircraft carrier strike groups deployed simultaneously, introducing the first test of the Navy’s Fleet Response Plan (FRP).
FRP is designed to increase fleet readiness and provide vital combat support in times of crisis across the globe.
“The strategy of the Navy today is an appropriate response to the unpredictable world we live in,” said Rear Adm. Patrick Walsh, commander, John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group (CSG). “We can’t expect to leave our home port on a date that was set a year ago on some calendar while our brothers in the Army and Marines are under fire. We have to be ready at a moment’s notice, and leave for home when properly relieved.”
With John C. Stennis in the Pacific, USS George Washington (CVN 73) in the Persian Gulf supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and five other carriers deployed throughout the world, the Navy is proving its new response plan works.
“We are here to prove to ourselves that we have the kind of capability to cover the globe,” said Capt. Dave Buss, Stennis’ commanding officer. “In many areas we already have. We’ve proven that we can flex our schedule and pulse when we need to.”
Many Sailors feel proud to be involved in the important exercise.
“It’s a massive surge,” said Chief Aviation Support Equipment (AW) Technician Hononrio Rongal of John C. Stennis. “To have that kind of presence on a global scale is extremely significant. This will show the United States and the world that if called upon, we can do it in an extremely short amount of time. That’s the Navy, forward thinking – and it works.”
Information Systems Technician 2nd Class (SW) Jarin Udom of John C. Stennis said the ship’s performance during Summer Pulse ’04 is setting the standards for the way the Navy responds to an emergency.
“We’re at the tip of the spear as far as testing this new plan out,” said Udom. “That’s important because we are able to help set the standard of something new that will eventually be the way the Navy operates, and this crew and the other CSGs involved in Pulse ’04 can say we were the first.”
Other than knowing they are the first CSGs involved in Summer Pulse ’04, Udom said there is not much difference in their daily routine.
“Just tack on the name of another exercise that makes sure we’re ready to go,” said Udom. “In the IT department, we keep the network running the same as we would any other day we are under way.”
The six other aircraft carriers involved in Summer Pulse ’04 include: the Norfolk-based USS George Washington (CVN 73) CSG and Yokosuka, Japan,-based USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). The Mayport, Fla.,-based USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) CSG will begin a combined and joint exercise early this month, followed by a scheduled overseas deployment. The Norfolk-based USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) CSG will conduct a scheduled training exercise, followed by overseas operations with the Norfolk-based USS Enterprise (CVN 65) CSG, beginning early this month. USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) will conduct operations in the U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command theaters during the ship’s interfleet transfer from Norfolk, Va., to its Pacific Fleet homeport of San Diego.
The exercise is scheduled to run through August.
By Journalist 2nd Class Devin Wright, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs (30th June, 2004)
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