7th Fleet Ships Conduct First High-End Advanced Training Event with SMWDC
By: Megan Eckstein
April 1, 2019 6:03 PM • Updated: April 2, 2019 1:33 PM
Naval forces forward-deployed in the Pacific took a big step in raising their warfighting proficiency, completing their first advanced training event hosted by the Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC).
Because Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) forces in Japan are already located in their warfighting theater, their training cycle differs from U.S.-based forces. Importantly, after a ship undergoes maintenance its crew is only put through a short basic training cycle before U.S. 7th Fleet commanders can begin tasking them with assignments.
On the other hand, U.S.-based forces undergo not only basic training but also integrated and advanced training exercises before heading overseas on deployments. Since 2016, that advanced training has been the Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) event hosted by SMWDC, which includes live missile shots and other high-end tactics to prepare the crews for whatever they may face on deployment.
https://news.usni.org/2019/04/01/7th-fleet-ships-conduct-first-high-end-advanced-training-event-smwdc
