Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Kaleb Sarten | 191112-N-QD512-0110 NORFOLK, Va. (Nov. 12, 2019) Sailors participate in an...... read more read more
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Sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) commenced Force Protection Exercises (FPEX) at Naval Station Norfolk, Nov. 18, as a part of the ship’s continual push to be operationally ready.
FPEX is a series of scenario-based drills that test the responses of the ship’s in-port security forces (ISF) and gauge its ability to protect the ship and its personnel.
“My team has put in countless hours of training for over six months, not only in preparation for FPEX, but more importantly to be able to provide the best security and safety to Ike’s crew,” said Lt. Cmdr. Frederick Wood, Ike’s Security Officer (SECO). “This is the reason we exist and I am more than confident that the blood, sweat and tears that my team has put into this will pay off.”
The Center for Security Forces (CENSECFOR), along with Commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic (CNAL), are responsible for evaluating the ship’s performance. Successful completion of FPEX is a requirement for the ship to dock pierside in foreign ports while deployed.
“We’re hoping to see that they can successfully demonstrate the responses that will allow them to keep the ship safe in a foreign port,” said Master-At-Arms 1st Class Timothy Sultzer, a watch commander aboard Ike.
Over the course of the months leading up to FPEX, Naval Security Force (NSF) members, like Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Alexis Lane, along with their ISF counterparts, have been running drills and training daily in an effort to prepare.
“We’ve been putting a big emphasis on repetition,” said Lane. “We run each drill countless times until it becomes second nature.”
Lane said that while the training has been very time consuming, it has proven to be effective.
“Our confidence has definitely built over time,” said Lane. “Whether it’s a gate runner, vehicle-borne IED, active shooters or a hostage situation, we’re going to follow the training and respond accordingly.”
Sultzer added that he has been impressed by the Sailors’ ability to respond to feedback, which he believes will lead to the successful completion of the exercises.
“We’ve seen some outstanding effort from our Sailors in all of the training we’ve done leading up to this,” said Sultzer. “We’ve asked a lot, and so far they’ve delivered.”
Although this is a security department evolution, the entire crew—even if not directly involved—can help by obeying all orders from security personnel during any drills. Sultzer said this is crucial because it affects the entire ship, especially during foreign port calls.
FPEX is slated to finish Nov. 22. Upon completion, the security department will prove that the ship is safe and secure, which brings Ike another step closer to being operationally ready.
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 11.22.2019 12:39 |
| Story ID: | 353053 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 387 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Deadly Force: Ike Conducts Force Protection Exercises, by PO1 Kaleb Sarten, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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