News From USJFCOM: USJFCOM aids transformational joint, coalition training

USJFCOM aids transformational joint, coalition training

Working together with the services, U.S. Joint Forces Command's Joint Training and Experimentation Network is playing a key role in conducting an important warfighting exercise for forces around the world.

By Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Public Affairs

(NORFOLK, Va.-Feb. 9, 2005) -- The U.S. 2nd Fleet will host a joint U.S. and United Kingdom force in a Multi-Battle Group Inport Exercise (MBGIE) Feb. 7-11. During the exercise, joint forces will replicate a composite warfighting scenario regardless of location.

This is the first time joint (Army and Air Force) and coalition forces will use the Navy's Continuous Training Environment infrastructure and U.S. Joint Forces Command’s Joint Training and Experimentation Network, providing real-time simulation aboard ships and with Air Force and Army training simulators.

“This is a great opportunity to demonstrate to a greater audience the technologies that are developing right here on the waterfront,” said Vice Adm. Mark P. Fitzgerald, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet/NATO Striking Fleet Atlantic in Nofolk, Va. “Implementing these capabilities, we are becoming a much more effective warfighting force.”

The MBGIE scenario will encompass 56 hours of continuous wartime planning and execution, and will allow participants the opportunity to train at all levels, promote coordination between warfare commanders, execute joint and combined battle force operations, and familiarize their crews with real-time joint and combined operations simulated in both a high tension and combat environment.

Forces participating in the exercise include:
in Norfolk, Va.:

• USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Expeditionary Strike Group staff, embarked aboard Kearsarge;
• U.K. Marine Forces, representing the U.K. battle staff, embarked aboard Kearsarge;
• USS Anzio (CG 68);
• USS Roosevelt (DDG 80);
• USS Kearsarge (LHD 3);
• USS Ashland (LSD 48);
• USS Ponce (LPD 15);
• USS Normandy (CG 60);
• USS Gonzalez (DDG 66);
• USS Kauffman (FFG 59);
• USS Mitscher (DDG 57);
• USS Mahan (DDG 72);
• USS Hawes (FFG 53);
• USS Scranton (SSN 756);

in Mayport, Fla.: USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67); in Tinker, Okla., Air Force 552nd Operation Support Squadron; in Niantic, Conn., Air Force 103rd Air Control Squadron; in Fort Bliss, Texas, Army 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade; and UK-coalition forces in Portsmouth, England, HMS Edinburgh (D 97) and HMS Westminster (F 237).

“The important aspect to remember regarding this particular exercise is that we have now included joint and coalition partners as an equal training audience in our simulation environment,” said Navy Cmdr. Chris Pieczynski, joint training programs officer for U.S. 2nd Fleet. “Opening up these opportunities will allow U.S. forces and coalition services to better integrate themselves into the battlespace to become a much more effective fighting force.”

“Tomorrow’s Navy is technologically advanced with sound operational practice to ensure that when we’re called to the fight, we can bring to the front our full capabilites with speed and agility,” said Fitzgerald.