Kearsarge amphibious ready group starts final pre-deployment exercise

Ships assigned to the Kearsarge amphibious ready group (ARG) departed Naval Station Norfolk on October 13 to start the composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX).

COMPTUEX is the final pre-deployment exercise that certifies the ARG’s abilities to conduct military operations at sea and project power ashore with the embarked 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit through joint planning and execution of challenging and realistic training scenarios.

The exercise is hosted by Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 4, which mentors, trains and assesses East Coast units preparing for future deployments.

The Kearsarge ARG consists of Amphibious Squadron 6, the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3), the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Arlington (LPD 24) and the Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43).

The guided-missile destroyers USS Gravely (DDG 107) and USS McFaul (DDG 74) are also participating in the exercise.

Kearsarge ARG ships are conducting COMPTUEX after becoming the US Navy’s first East Coast group to complete the surface warfare advanced tactical training (SWATT) exercise in June this year.