The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group (TRCSG) completed composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX), the final work-up phase and certification event prior to deployment scheduled later this year.

COMPTUEX evaluated the strike group's deployment readiness by testing command and control functions, crew safety evolutions, search and rescue operations, damage control testing and operational capabilities of a carrier strike group, ultimately certifying the TRCSG for deployment.

"I'm very pleased with how Theodore Roosevelt and the Air Wing preformed this past month," said Capt. Carlos Sardiello, Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). "Each department poured their heart and soul into doing their best, resulting in a successful completion of COMPTUEX."

Teamwork and effective communication were graded elements of the exercise. These elements tested the viability of the strike group, evaluating their ability to react and adapt to an environment of unpredictability.

"It was with everybody here on this ship and across the strike group that we were able to take the fight to the enemy in this exercise," said Rear Adm. Steve Koehler, Commander, Carrier Strike Group Nine. "Everyone has a portion to play and the phenomenal work over the past month could not have been done without everyone doing their part. I'm extremely proud of what everybody has done in a very high-stress, high-tempo environment. I couldn't be more pleased."

COMPTUEX provided commanding officers and higher-echelon staff with opportunities to demonstrate operational capabilities and supported the many types of missions which could take place during a regularly-scheduled deployment.

"COMPTUEX has evolved in complexity through ever changing, realistic and dynamic scenarios," said Koehler. "This is about the high end fight and the capability a combat ready carrier strike group brings to that fight. That combat readiness is based on teamwork and synergy of all mission sets across the strike group and the fact that everybody individually performed their skillset when they needed to do it enabled the team to succeed in this complicated exercise."

Over the course of a month, the TRCSG sailed an upwards of 7,500 nautical miles, launched over 1,700 fixed wing aircraft, conducted nine replenishments-at-sea, exchanged 4,756,000 gallons of fuel and transferred 1,808 pallets of cargo. Theodore Roosevelt embarked with 4,700 personnel aboard, hosted 198 distinguished visitors and sailed with 60 plus aircraft belonging to nine squadrons.

TRCSG is comprised of Carrier Strike Group 9 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 23 staff, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Carrier Air Wing (CVW 17) and the DESRON 23 ships; the guided-missile destroyers USS Halsey (DDG 97), USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS Preble (DDG 88) and USS Sampson (DDG 102), as well as the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52).

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