CHIPS Articles: International partner visits Dahlgren training command

CDRE Justin Jones is responsible for all of RAN training. He visited CSCS and ATRC, accompanied by CDRE Peter Leavy, the Naval Attaché to the United States, to discuss Aegis baseline 9C training, U.S. Navy training initiatives and to see firsthand how the U.S. Navy is training the RAN Sailors manning the new Hobart class of air warfare destroyers (AWD), which are equipped with the Aegis combat system.

ATRC Commanding Officer Capt. Pete Galluch and CSCS Executive Officer Cmdr. Chris Simmons welcomed Jones and provided him command overviews, a brief tour of the schoolhouse, and training demonstrations.

“Commodore Jones observed a blended learning solution that includes standard classrooms, hands-on labs, simulations, as well as computer-based and interactive courseware training,” Galluch explained. “He was able to see how we have been helping his Sailors implement and execute Aegis since the beginning of 2014.”

Jones, who was appointed to his current role in November 2016, enjoyed his time in Dahlgren.

“I was impressed with the quality of training Sailors receive to effectively operate the AWD's Aegis combat system,” Jones said. “I also appreciated meeting with leadership to reemphasize the USN’s and RAN’s growing partnership.”

Center for Surface Combat Systems’ international training is coordinated through the command’s Security Assistance and International Programs directorate. Its mission is to provide allied forces quality training to enable them to develop ready teams capable of operations that maintain and expertly employ surface combatants.

Center for Surface Combat Systems International Programs Director, Dr. Darrell Tatro, and CSCS International Programs Training Technology and Tools, Mr. Lloyd Kleinman, briefed Jones on the Center for Surface Combat Systems’ current technology initiatives, including the Synthetic Combat Operator Trainer (SCOT), a personal computer trainer used to train Aegis operators for the U.S. Navy and military members from partner nations and the Visual Interactive Simulated Training Application (VISTA), a PC-based real-time simulation of shipboard equipment used to train maintenance operators for the U.S. Navy and military members from partner nations.

“We demonstrated how we are currently training U.S. and RAN Sailors, training tools we have exported to Australia, and future development initiatives that are forthcoming between our two nations,” Tatro explained. “We share a special partnership with the Royal Australian Navy and we will continue to focus on facilitating an exchange of ideas, information and training material as we progress with the AWD program.”

The Center for Surface Combat Systems' mission is to develop and deliver surface ship combat systems training to achieve surface warfare superiority. CSCS headquarters' staff oversees 15 learning sites and detachments located throughout the continental United States, Hawaii, Spain, and Japan. The Center for Surface Combat Systems provides over 528 courses, awards 116 different Navy Enlisted Classifications (NECs), and trains more than 37,000 Sailors a year. The Center for Surface Combat Systems delivers specialized training for officer and enlisted Sailors required to tactically operate, maintain, and employ shipboard and shore-based weapons, sensors, and command and control systems utilized in today's Navy.