Dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) and embarked Marines from the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) successfully completed Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), June 29.

COMPTUEX is a series of demanding drills, based on real world events and scenarios, designed to ensure the Amphibious Ready Group is well prepared for deployment. Every facet of Whidbey Island's capabilities were rigorously tested and graded by Carrier Strike Group 4.

"CSG 4 has done an awesome job testing our preparedness for missions in the 6th and 5th Fleet [areas of responsibility]," said Cmdr. Ethan Rule, commanding officer of Whidbey Island. "We've seen a dramatic improvement in our ability to execute all of our mission areas. Our team did an all-around wonderful job coming together as a unit and transitioning from the basic phase to the intermediate phase to being ready for deployment."

The exercise not only tested key mission areas, but the ability of Sailors and Marines to work together as a cohesive whole in order to accomplish the mission.

"Our Sailors and Marines worked together to make the ship deployment ready; not an easy task for anyone," said Operations Specialist 2nd Class Brandon Steger. "Team 41 has really overcome the challenges that were put in front of us."

Drills ran the gamut of small boat operations; well deck evolutions; amphibious raids; maritime security patrols; strait transits; visit, board, search and seizure team scenarios; and air defense exercises.

"The ship did well," said Lt. Cmdr. Maurice Hood, CSG 4 senior assessor embarked on Whidbey Island. "The events and preparation we put the ship through have made it better able to accomplish deployment operations."

Whidbey Island, along with Amphibious Squadron Six, amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17), amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), and the 22nd MEUm comprise the Wasp ARG.

COMPTUEX was the final evolution to certify the ship for a scheduled deployment this summer.

For more information on Whidbey Island, visit http://www.navy.mil/local/lsd41 or join the conversation at http://www.facebook.com/USSWhidbeyIsland.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from USS Wasp, visit http://www.navy.mil/.