US Navy’s Ike CSG on standby

U.S. Navy sailors assigned to the Eisenhower carrier strike group have been ready to deploy on short notice ever since they returned from their 2016 deployment.

Now, approximately 6,000 sailors are conducting a sustainment exercise (SUSTEX) to maintain their readiness and capability to deploy should the need arise.

“Ike CSG is doing a great job on SUSTEX. Sustaining the readiness of this strike group–so it is ready to respond to a crisis anywhere on the planet–is a bargain and an important part of what our Navy’s Optimized Fleet Response Plan does for the nation,” said Adm. Phil Davidson, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces.

SUSTEX is designed to test and train the carrier strike group’s ability to perform and effectively respond as an integrated team during scenarios the group may encounter while deployed or during high-end warfare.

“Since returning in December 2016 from our combat deployment to the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea and Eastern Mediterranean, our tasking has been to remain deployment-ready in all respects,” said Rear Adm. Jim Malloy, commander of Ike CSG. “The Navy has invested and focused its limited resources to keep us fully manned, trained and equipped in case we are needed for a crisis.”

The exercise consists of a variety of training evolutions including anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, strike warfare, irregular warfare and maritime interdiction scenarios.

Ike CSG is comprised of its flagship, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike), and its associated ships: the guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) and guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Monterey (CG 61).