READINESS TRAINING IN THE U.S. NAVY

Tomahawk is a highly survivable weapon against predicted hostile defense systems. Radar detection is difficult because the missile has a very small cross section and flies at low altitude. Similarly, infrared detection is difficult because the turbofan engine emits a low level of heat. The antiship variant of Tomahawk uses a combined search radar and passive detection of enemy electronic radiation to detect a hostile ship at great range. READINESS TRAINING IN THE U.S. NAVY Readiness is defined as the ability of a force, a unit, a weapons system, or an equipment to deliver the output for which it was designed. Readiness includes the ability to deploy and employ without unacceptable delays. To meet the sea power challenge, the U.S. Navy continually conducts readiness training. This readiness training includes refresher training, routine drills, exercises, and inspections. REFRESHER TRAINING REFRESHER TRAINING is designed to turn a materially ready and manned ship into a ship that is fully capable of performing its assigned mission. The Navy operates two refresher training groups, one on each coast of the United States. The Atlantic group is located at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; the Pacific group is located at San Diego, California. Refresher training consists of inspections, exercises, drills, and battle problems. These are designed to test every capability of the ship. Refresher training normally takes about 5 weeks to complete under the watchful eye of a refresher training group. A ship must repeat all exercises failed during this period until it receives a passing grade. Upon completion of refresher training, the ship is ready for deployment. ROUTINE DRILLS After refresher training the ship must hold frequent drills to keep the crew in top shape. These may be of the operational, emergency, administrative, or special type. Ships base all drills on the ship’s bills and the basic bills outlined in Standard Organization and Regulations of the U.S. Navy, OPNAVINST 3120.32B. Ships hold routine drills to ensure qualified personnel are assigned, bills are correct, and all equipment is on hand and in working condition. Drills may seem repetitive, but this repetitiveness produces a set of automatic responses by crew members that prepares them for any event. General quarters is the most important drill held. A general quarters drill covers various bills that provide for exercise of the entire crew. It allows for damage-control, gun-crew, missile-firing, and medical-team drills all at once. Other frequently held drills are collision, man overboard, abandon ship, and rescue and assistance. Through routine drills each person in the crew the most stressful INSPECTIONS will be able to perform under conditions. To ensure ships and crews are prepared to meet operational commitments, higher authority holds several formal inspections. These inspections ensure the ship is safe to operate and administrative procedures are correct. They also ensure the ship is prepared to operate in wartime conditions and in battle. We will briefly cover four of the most important inspections conducted. Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) One of the most important inspections ships receive is the OPERATIONAL READINESS IN- SPECTION (ORI). Unit commanders normally perform these inspections while the ship is underway with the crew at battle stations or with condition watches set. Type commanders place heavy emphasis on the ORI. This inspection tests the ability of the crew and ship to operate in battle under wartime conditions. The most important exercise is a lengthy and realistic battle problem with the crew at general quarters. Normally the ship will fire actual weapons during the exercise. Defense against all forms of attack will be tested along with damage-control, collision, and abandon-ship drills. Propulsion Examination Board (PEB) Inspection The PROPULSION EXAMINATION BOARD (PEB) INSPECTION is conducted to ensure the propulsion system is safe to operate. It also determines the adequacy of the administrative and operating procedures directly related to the propulsion plant and the capability of assigned personnel to maintain equipment and systems. 1-20