Three US Navy Vessels Engage in MISSILEX

Arleigh Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57), in company with USS Vicksburg (CG 69) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) participated in a live-fire missile exercise (MISSILEX), Sept. 3.

During the exercise, Mitcher fired a Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) missile.

“USS Mitscher was able to successfully demonstrate the effectiveness of our Aegis Combat Weapons System,” said Lt. Gregory Descovich, the tactical action officer (TAO) for the exercise. “This training opportunity provided valuable lessons, which have made our combat team able to execute any mission assigned to us while on deployment,” Descovich, from Hercules, California, is the chief engineer on board Mitscher.

A large amount of planning and personnel are required to conduct a safe missile exercise. It is through everyone’s care and attention to detail that the steps of a missile exercise get accomplished, and the decisions are all dependent on their teamwork.

Mitcher is preparing for deployment by conducting a group sail with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group as part of her Independent Deployer Certification. She will be operating in conjunction with other U.S. Navy warships conducting their own pre-deployment certifications.