CVW-3 Takes Its Show on the Road

ON BOARD USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- It's been a busy number of weeks for USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).

The ship participated in more carrier qualifications, and now its crew is preparing to shoot Bruce Willis' new action film, "Tears of the Sun."

Just because Carrier Air Wing Three (CVW-3) isn't with Harry S. Truman (HST), it doesn't mean they're not just as busy.

For the past several weeks, the eight squadrons of CVW-3 have been conducting unit level training at the Naval Strike and Warfare Center (NSAWC) at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev.

"It is the first time the air wing really works together in practicing more complex tactics," said Lieutenant Commander Jeff Hyink, VFA-37's safety officer.

NSAWC is the primary authority on training and tactics development. It's primary mission is to provide robust and comprehensive training to Carrier Air Wings in the full spectrum of strike warfare in current and projected combat environments.

The squadrons of CVW-3 are using this environment to become a cohesive unit, dependant on each other to carry out various missions.

"Fallon is our first really big test as an air wing alone," said Commander Norb Szarleta, Commanding Officer, VFA-37.

One of the main benefits of having a training facility like NAS Fallon is the Fallon Range Training Complex (FRTC), which encompasses more than 10,200 square miles of airspace east of NAS Fallon. There, aircrew, intelligence, maintenance, and various ground elements come together to train in the various aspects of strike warfare, amphibious operations, joint battlefield operations, Combat Air Support, and Combat Search and Rescue.

Extensive high tempo air operations, strike team leader training, and live and inert ordnance delivery training highlight these events.

After training at NSAWC is complete, CVW-3 will rejoin HST to participate in the Combined Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX). During COMPTUEX, HST, CVW-3 and the rest of Carrier Group Two will come together to put all of the individual training to the test.

"Hopefully during COMPTUEX, we'll practice what we learned in Fallon on the ship," said Hyink.

The training at NAS Fallon in combination with that training already executed aboard Harry S Truman and that to come, will ensure that the CVW-3/HST Team will be ready to carry out the orders of the National Command Authority.

For more news from USS Harry S Truman, go to www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn75.