U.S. and Japan forces participated in a four-day Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint (FST-J) exercise, Feb. 23-27.
FST-J provided training to personnel from Commander, Task Force 70, U.S. Army and Air Force and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) in strike force level proficiency, operations, joint interoperability and mission rehearsal for ships, aviation, and submarine simulators.
Training exercises are conducted using models and simulations to replicate real-world command and control systems, which allow units to develop operator-level proficiency and validation of tactics, techniques and procedures prior to participation’s of real-world events or joint training exercises.
The U.S. and Japanese forces encountered computer-generated environmental conditions, political state of affairs and foreign military provocations without having to operate at sea.
FST-J enables the Navy and its allies in different geographical areas to gain training efficiencies at sea by conducting training exercises and synthetic pierside scenarios, and plays a vital role in the qualification, readiness and interoperability of the strike group and its host nation.
CTF 70 (Carrier Strike Group 5) is embarked aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) and includes Carrier Air Wing 5, Aegis cruisers USS Shiloh (CG 67) and USS Antietam (CG 54) and Destroyer Squadron 15. Together, these units form the U.S. Navy’s only continuously forward deployed (and largest) carrier strike group and are critical combat elements of the U.S. 7th Fleet.
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Image: US Navy