Ford carrier strike group completes first at-sea integrated training

USS Gerald R Ford, shown here returning from deployment in early 2024, recently completed its first integrated at-sea training. (Janes/Michael Fabey)

The ships of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, anchored by aircraft carrier USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78), recently completed their first at-sea integrated training in the Atlantic Ocean off the US East Coast, the US Navy (USN) confirmed on 20 November.

The integrated training, called Group Sail, was conducted in mid-November and represented the first training opportunity for the entire Ford CSG team, including Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Winston S Churchill (DDG 81), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 2, and the Information Warfare Commander and his team, the USN noted.

Besides Churchill, USS Mitscher (DDG 57), USS Mahan (DDG 72), USS Bainbridge (DDG 96), and USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) also operated with Ford in the Atlantic Ocean in mid-November, the USN said.

Group Sail is the first at-sea element in CSG-integrated phase training led by CSG 4 and its subordinate commands, and was preceded by an in-port Warfare Commander's Conference, the USN noted.

After Group Sail, the Ford CSG will participate in Fleet Synthetic Training (FST)–Group Commander and FST–Joint in preparation for their final at-sea certification event – ‘Composite Training Unit' Exercise (COMPTUEX).

Rear Admiral Thomas Moninger, commander, CSG 12, said, “We will increase our tactical proficiency at a higher level in upcoming training events as the result of this at-sea period.”

Ford returned from operations in the Red Sea region in early 2024.

For more information about Ford operations during its recent deployment, please seeTwo US carriers, Italian naval forces join in US 6th Fleet exercises.