Aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) returned to Norfolk after completing Tailored Ship's Training Availability/Final Evaluation Problem (TSTA/FEP), Oct. 3.

TSTA/FEP is designed to train the crew in preparation for deployment, as well as integrate ship's company with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8. This was the ship's first time out to sea embarked with staffs of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 2, CVW-8 and its squadrons, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 22 since its 2014 deployment.

This certification was graded by the Afloat Training Group (ATG) Atlantic.

GHWB was evaluated by simulating real-world situations where members of ATG assessed the crew's knowledge, precision and overall operational readiness.

These evolutions include an emphasis on damage control, flight deck operations and simulated combat exercises.

Sailors demonstrated their readiness through a number of drills, including firefighting, flooding casualties, man overboard drills, simulated attacks by enemy ships, and flight operations in various conditions.

At the completion of training and complete integration with the air wing, a final evaluation problem solidified the ship's readiness.

The ship successfully passed more than 300 graded evolutions and completed TSTA/FEP in only a matter of 16 days.

"ATG was very complimentary of our Sailors and crew during the out-brief," said Lt. Cmdr. Alexandra Grayson, the ship's training officer. "They were impressed with the motivation level of the watchstanders."

The ship received an average of 97 percent across all graded evolutions.

The next step in certifying GHWB for deployment will be a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) which will test all warfare mission areas of the ship and CSG-2.

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