USS Theodore Roosevelt Ends TSTA and FEP

TSTA/FEP is a three-week training and evaluation period that prepares the ship and crew for integrated training with carrier strike group (CSG) assets through a wide range of drills, exercises, and operational scenarios.

“FEP is a two-day evolution, which tests the basic watchstanders’ and training teams’ performance,” said Capt. John Sipes, the director of aviation training at Afloat Training Group (ATG), from San Diego. “It is designed to make sure that the carrier is in a combat environment and see how well the crew will perform under challenging situations, in the areas of damage control, aviation, seamanship, navigation, medical and combat systems.”

FEP ensures TR’s crew is fully capable of defending themselves from an attack or a casualty in open waters by assessing the damage control training team’s (DCTT) knowledge and performance of damage control and life-saving techniques.

“DCTT is the backbone for damage control, but every Sailor is a firefighter, whether you are a yeoman or a cook,” said Sipes. “You have to know how to put out fires, stop flooding, dewater spaces and construct shoring.”

Sailors aboard TR conducted 66 drills including 11 general quarters drills, four mass casualty drills and 18 at-sea fire party drills before completing TSTA/FEP. ATG evaluated Sailors on their motivation, skill and level of knowledge.

FEP concludes TR’s basic phase of training as the ship enters the intermediate phase. The Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group will be working closely together in the months to come in preparation for their deployment in spring of 2015.

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Press Release, October 10, 2014; Image: US Navy