Aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) completed the Command Assessment of Readiness and Training Phase Two (CART II) certification, May 19.

During CART II, Afloat Training Group (ATG) assesses training teams on their ability to train the crew on a variety of drills, including medical emergencies, general quarters responses, and other evolutions to evaluate the performance of GHWB Sailors.

"It's normally a five-day evolution, but we're doing ours in three days due to our tight schedule," said Lt. Cmdr. Alexandra Grayson, CVN 77's training officer. "We're looking at where our training has taken us and [we'll] see where it needs to go in order to get ready for final evaluation problem."

The Tailored Ship's Training Availability and Final Evaluation Problem (TSTA/FEP) process is when the crew's ability to self-train is assessed, as well being able to handle combat missions and maintaining casualty control while supporting flight operations.

The three-day assessment tested the ship's administrative and material readiness. The shipboard training teams' ability to plan, execute and review integrated and non-integrated drill sets are tested to show they are ready for at-sea operations.

ATG also conducts inspections aboard GHWB to make sure equipment is properly maintained and Sailors are knowledgeable in the use of their equipment.

"Throughout CART II we had a series of random drills to test the capabilities of not just damage control teams, but the other divisions as well," said Damage Controlman 3rd Class Johnathan Hill. "ATG's job is to grade how the ship and its crew does and we made sure we, collectively, were ready. They take a look at our equipment and make sure everything works. If there is an emergency, the equipment has to be able to do its job when we need it."

Hill emphasized the importance of having both Sailors and equipment aboard GHWB to function hand-in-hand, and to the best of their abilities during CART II and while at sea.

"CART II is a way to judge our mission readiness capability and our ability to take care of ourselves during extreme situations," said Hill. "If we failed to demonstrate this, we wouldn't go anywhere because we wouldn't be ready."

Completing CART II successfully doesn't mean learning stops. Feedback training teams receive from assessments like this help improve training plans for future exercises.

"I think the ship has come a long way since I've been aboard," said Grayson. "The training teams received great feedback from their leadership and ATG, and they let us know what we did well and what needed improvement."

With the conclusion of CART II, the ship entered the TSTA/FEP process. During this time, the crew began testing the limits of emergency response capabilities during at-sea operations.

GHWB is currently undergoing a planned incremental availability period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

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