SAN DIEGO - Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education, N1, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations/Chief of Naval Personnel, visited Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC) San Diego (SD) to observe first-hand advancements in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training.
Capt. Justin Long, SCSTC SD, commanding officer, welcomed CNP Vice Adm. John B. Nowell and highlighted how the schoolhouse trains warfighters to fight and win.
“The Surface Training Advanced Virtual Environment-Combat Systems [STAVE-CS] initiative has given us the ability to revolutionize ASW training,” said Long. “With these modernized training systems, we see the potential for future growth in our Sailors’ warfighting training and use across the fleet.”
SCSTC SD’s sonar department demonstrated and emphasized the importance of Virtual Operator Trainers (VOTs) which are utilized by all levels of students from accession to prospective commanding officers. The VOTs replicate the naval warship’s AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 sonar suite.
“The VOTs provide an environment where students can have both classroom and lab training in one setting,” explained Chief (select) Kay Ortiz. “Instructors are able to teach concepts and immediately utilize those concepts using the exact same displays the students will use aboard their ships. The trainers realistically recreate the high-end tactical training needed to build lethality, warfighting, and tactical proficiency. The VOTs have made a significant impact to the fleet by preparing better-qualified Sailors in a shorter amount of time.”
After the VOT tour, Nowell toured the ASW Tactical Employment Trainer (ATET).
“With its integrated design, students can conduct single-ship or coordinate multi-ship ASW training with realistic oceanographic environments,” explained Senior Chief Sonar Technician (surface) Tara Kerrin. “Additionally, real time debrief capabilities allow instructors/assessors to recall and replay any aspect of the scenario upon completion. The ATET is the future of ASW team training.”
The VOTs and ATETs are two of many training systems that were developed, funded and delivered as part of the Director, Surface Warfare’s, OPNAV N96, program of record, STAVE-CS. This program was introduced in 2015 as a means to provide better quality training resulting in more rapid qualifications of our Sailors. It comprises of instructional systems and simulated physical environments that provide watchstanders the ability to gain proficiency through repeatable and repetitive exercises, drills and evolutions ashore.
After the ATET demonstration concluded, Nowell remarked on SCSTC SD’s training efforts.
“When you look at the training SCSTC is providing to our warfighters, it is truly amazing,” Nowell said. “These state-of-the-art combat-systems trainers will help shape our Sailors into better warfighters who will be ready for the high-end fight.”
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Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC) falls under the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC). NETC, led by Rear Adm. Peter Garvin, is the U.S. Navy’s Force Development pillar and largest shore command. Through its “Street to Fleet” focus, NETC recruits civilians and transforms them into skilled warfighters ready to meet the current and future needs of the U.S. Navy.
SCSTC is a training organization of over 6,500 staff and students across 12 global locations, including SCSTC San Diego, and implements culture of excellence and warrior toughness by building a Surface Warrior mindset to complement the technical and tactical skillsets of building the kill chain and closing the fire control loop. SCSTC delivers system and platform specific combat systems training to a growing surface Navy. SCSTC delivers training to over 35,000 U.S. Navy Sailors as well as 700 international Sailors from 22 partner nations annually. Our overall mission is to train the fleet so that our Navy can fight and win!
For information about SCSTC SD, visit
https://www.netc.navy.mil/SCSTC-San-Diego/
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