The guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) pulled into Naval Station Norfolk after completing its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group.

COMPTUEX, the final in a series of training exercises designed to certify the Ike CSG for a scheduled deployment, tested the strike group's ability and flexibility to react to real-world scenarios as single units and as a strike group.

"COMPTUEX really is the capstone event for carrier strike group training," said Cmdr. Chris Gilbertson, Mason's commanding officer. "We now have the confidence that Mason and the Ike CSG team are ready for the full range of missions we may encounter on our overseas deployment."

Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 4 evaluated the Ike CSG on how they performed as a number of ships, submarines and aircraft served as opposing forces in anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, strike warfare, cyber warfare, maritime interdiction, irregular warfare, counter-piracy and counter-proliferation exercises.

"These 30-plus days underway tested the crew in so many ways, from the SM-2 missile firing exercise to hunting submarines to live-fire exercises, said Cmdr. Stephen Aldridge, Mason's executive officer. "We faced various challenges."

With COMPTUEX complete, Mason and the rest of Ike CSG is a deployment-ready fighting force capable of conducting operations in overseas theaters.

"COMPTUEX was an amazing opportunity for the Mason team," said Command Master Chief Ronald Shasky. "I feel that it was a huge success; it allowed us as a unit and a strike group to work through complex problems and show that we are ready to handle the rigors of deployment."

Along with Mason, Ike CSG includes the Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10 staff, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, the guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Monterey (CG 61), and the DESRON 26 ships: guided-missile destroyers USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) and USS Nitze (DDG 94).

Join the conversation with Mason on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MASONDDG87/.

Find more information about Mason at www.navy.mil/local/ddg87.


For more news from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), visit www.navy.mil/.