Sailors aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) performed a simulated replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with USS Farragut (DDG 99) Oct. 23, as part of Truman's Tailored Shipboard Training Availability and Final Evaluation Problem (TSTA/FEP).

"What's unique about this RAS is that normally we go alongside a supply ship to receive fuel," said Senior Chief Quartermaster Jerry Tredo, Navigation department's leading chief petty officer. "Today we had a destroyer that pulled alongside us to receive fuel."

A RAS is an all-hands evolution that can include up to a 200-man working party and Sailors from nearly every department working in unison. Deck and Navigation are among those departments who play a major role in a successful underway replenishment.

"Acting as the supply ship and providing one of the destroyers in our strike group with fuel is just another example of our flexibility and capability as a carrier," said Chief Boatswain's Mate Dena Reese, a Deck department leading chief petty officer. "We do what is necessary to get the job done."

As the strike group flagship, Truman must remain poised to perform evolutions like this on a moment's notice. These types of replenishments are mission essential and require the effort of many to ensure successful execution, added Reese.

"Interestingly, our strike group commander, Rear Adm. Gene Black, had a real-life scenario occur when he was the commanding officer of a destroyer and he had to refuel with a carrier," said Reese. "So it just goes to show you the importance of executing this drill, and our guys did so flawlessly today."

Truman is currently underway conducting Tailored Shipboard Test Availability and Final Evaluation Problem (TSTA/FEP) in preparation for future operations. For more news from USS Harry S. Truman, visit http://www.facebook.com/usstruman.

For more news from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), visit www.navy.mil/.