User:Marcd30319/Marcd30319 original Carrier Strike Group Two

Carrier Strike Group Two, designated CSG-2 or CARSTRKGRU 2, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned the United States Fleet Forces Command. CARSTRKGRU 2 is currently based at Naval Station Norfolk, and it typically deploys to the U.S. Sixth Fleet operating in the Mediterranean Sea (MED) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.

CARSTRKGRU 2 has participated in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 05-2, Operation Brewing Storm, Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 08-4, and Operation Brimstone. Elements of Carrier Strike Group Two also participated in Operation Unified Response, the relief effort for earthquake-ravaged Haiti. With CSG-2 flagship, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), undergoing its Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH), the newly-commissioned carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) has been assigned to Carrier Strike Group Two as its new flagship, with its maiden overseas deployment scheduled for 2011.

On 29 July 2010, Rear Admiral Nora W. Tyson assumed command of Carrier Strike Group Two, becoming the first woman to command a U.S. Navy carrier task group.

Mission capabilities
U.S. Navy carrier strike groups are employed in a variety of roles, all of which involve gaining and maintaining sea control. The core mission capabilities of Carrier Strike Group Three (CARSTRKGRU 3) include:


 * Forward Presence
 * Deterrence
 * Sea Control
 * Power Projection
 * Maritime Security
 * Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Response (HADR)

Historical background
Carrier Division Two (CarDiv 2) was established on 30 September 1937, consisting of the fleet aircraft carriers USS Yorktown (CV-5) and USS Enterprise (CV-6), under the command of Vice Admiral William F. Halsey. During World War Two, aircraft carriers assigned to Carrier Division Two participated in the Doolittle Raid (pictured), the Battle of Midway, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, Operation Hailstone, the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and the Battle of Leyte Gulf, as well as the Solomon Islands campaign, the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign, the Hollandia and Western New Guinea campaign, the Philippines Campaign, the Mariana and Palau Islands campaign, the Iwo Jima campaign, and the Okinawan campaign, as part of the U.S. Navy's Fast Carrier Task Force.

After the war, aircraft carriers assigned to Carrier Division Two were involved in the Cuba Missile Crisis, Operation Sea Orbit, the Six-Day War, and the Vietnam War. USS Enterprise (CVN-65) flew the flag of Commander Carrier Division 2 in 1963. Re-designated as Commander Carrier Group Two (ComCarGru 2) in 1973, aircraft carriers assigned to ComCarGru 2 subsequently participated in Operation El Dorado Canyon, Operation Desert Storm, and Operation Uphold Democracy.

In the Summer of 1992, the U.S. Navy instituted a concept which mandated greater task group integration of naval air and surface warfare assets into a more permanent carrier battle group structure. Instead of routinely changing the cruisers, destroyers, and frigates assigned to each carrier battle group, there was an attempt made to affiliate certain escorts more permanently with the carriers they escorted. Each of the Navy's 12 existing carrier battle groups was planned to consist of an aircraft carrier; an embarked carrier air wing; cruiser, destroyer, and frigate units; and two nuclear-powered attack submarines. Commander Carrier Group Two (ComCarGru 2) was the Immediate Superior in Command (ISIC) of the Harry S. Truman  Carrier Battle Group.

Effective 1 October 2004, in keeping with the CNO’s Guidance from Admiral Vernon E. Clark, Commander Carrier Group Two (ComCarGru 2) and its the Harry S. Truman  Carrier Battle Group were re-designated as Carrier Strike Group Two (CARSTRKGRU 2).

Command structure
Commander Carrier Strike Group Two (COMCARSTRKGRU 2) serves as Immediate Superior-in-Command (ISIC) for the ships and units assigned to the Carrier Strike Group. Acting as an Operational Commander, COMCARSTRKGRU 2 exercises oversight of unit-level training, integrated training, and readiness for assigned ships and units, as well as maintains administrative functions and material readiness tracking for ships and squadrons assigned to the group.

Carrier Strike Group Two reports to Commander, Commander, U.S. Second Fleet as one of six carrier strike groups currently assigned to United States Fleet Forces Command. CARSTRKGRU 2's pre-deployment training and certification comes under the operational control (OPCON) of U.S. Second Fleet. When deployed overseas, Carrier Strike Group Two comes under the command authority of the U.S. Sixth Fleet when operating in the Mediterranean Sea (MED) and the U.S. Fifth Fleet when operating in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.

Type commands (TYCOM) are in administrative control (ADCON) and in some cases, operational control (OPCON) of certain types of assets (i.e, surface combatant ships, submarines, aircraft, and fleet marines) assigned to the U.S. Fleet Forces Command. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) and Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8) are under the administrative control of Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. The guided-missile cruisers USS Vella Gulf (CG-72), USS Monterey (CG-61), USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55); and Destroyer Squadron Twenty-two (DESRON-22) are under the administrative control of Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic.

Force composition in 2011
U.S. Navy carrier strike groups typically consist of an aircraft carrier (flagship), an embarked carrier air wing, at least one Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, and a destroyer squadron. As of 2011, Carrier Strike Group Two is composed of the following units:
 * USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), flagship (pictured)
 * Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8)
 * USS Vella Gulf (CG-72)
 * USS Monterey (CG-61)
 * USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55)
 * Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Two (DESRON-22)
 * USS Truxtun (DDG-103)
 * USS Nitze (DDG-94)
 * USS Mason (DDG-87)
 * USS McFaul (DDG-74)
 * USS Mahan (DDG-72)
 * USS Cole (DDG-67)
 * USS Elrod (FFG-55)

2004 Operations: MED deployment
Carrier Strike Group Two (CARSTRKGRU 2) departed Norfolk on 13 October 2004 for an extended deployment. Rear Admiral Michael C. Tracy was in command of CARSTRKGRU 2. The task group consisted of the Harry S. Truman, Carrier Air Wing 3; the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG-61); DESRON-26 guided-missile destroyers USS Barry (DDG-52) and USS Mason (DDG-87); the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Albuquerque (SSN-706); and the fast combat logistics ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE-8). CVW-3 squadrons embarked onboard the Harry S. Truman included:

Light anti-submarine helicopter (HSL) squadron detachments deploying with HSTCSG escort warships included:

The strike group participates in the Joint Maritime Course (JMC-043) north of Scotland between 25 - 28 October 2004. JMC-043 included strike, surface, and submarine warfare exercises with a multi-national force. CARSTRKGRU 2 subsequently paid a port visit to Souda Bay, Crete, between 5–8 November 2004.
 * Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 46 (HSL-46) Det 3: 2 SH-60B Seahawk onboard USS Monterey (CG-61)
 * Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 46 (HSL-46) Det 8: 2 SH-60B Seahawk onboard USS Mason (DDG-87)

Carrier Strike Group Two transited the Suez Canal on 11 November 2004 and relieved the USS John F. Kennedy (CV-67) carrier strike group on 20 November 2004. Truman and Carrier Air Wing 3 launched 2,577 sorties, totaling nearly 13,000 flight hours, in support of OIF and maritime security operations (MSO) before being relieved by the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) Carrier Strike Group in the Persian Gulf on 19 March 2005. One major air operation involved a VAW-126 detachment of two E-2C Hawkeyes that operated out of Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, from 4–13 December 2004. The detachment's mission was to provide airborne command and control for the inauguration of Hamid Karzai, Afghanistan's first democratically elected president. This event was attended by an entourage led by U.S. Vice President Richard B. Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld.

CARSTRKGRU 2 paid a port visit to Bahrain between 13–18 December 2004. Despite plans to cross the equator and visit South Africa, diplomatic issues caused the strike group to transit the Suez Canal, stopping in Portsmouth, England, prior to returning to the United States on 19 April 2005.

2005 Operations
The aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt was re-assigned at the flagship for Carrier Strike Group Two, and the carrier Harry S. Truman was re-assigned at the flagship for Carrier Strike Group Ten.

Joint Task Force Exercise 05-2: Operation Brewing Storm
Carrier Strike Group Two (COMCARSTRKGRU 2) participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 05-2 (JTFEX 05-2), code-named Operation Brewing Storm, between 14–22 July 2005. The operation involved warships from four navies, and it presented U.S. and coalition forces with realistic and dynamic exercise threats that closely replicate operational challenges military forces routinely encounter around the world. It was designed to provide quality, realistic training to prepare U.S. forces for joint and combined operations. In addition to CARSTRKGRU 2, Operation Brewing Storm also included Carrier Strike Group Ten (CARSTRKGRU 10), led by the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), the Spanish guided-missile frigate Álvaro de Bazán, and the Peruvian diesel-electric attack submarine Antofagasta. Truman (CVN 75) and Carrier Air Wing 3 (CVW-3) also completed sustainment training on 19 July 2005 under the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Response Training Plan (FRTP) during Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet’s Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX 05-2), which included general quarters drills, strike warfare, close air support, and air defense.

2005 MED Deployment
Carrier Strike Group Two (COMCARSTRKGRU 2) departed from Norfolk on 1 September 2005. Commanded by Rear Admiral James A. Winnefeld, Jr., CARSTRKGRU 2 included the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), the guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG-56); DESRON-22 guided-missile destroyers USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) and USS Donald Cook (DDG-75); the Spanish guided-missile frigate Álvaro de Bazán; and the ammunition ship USNS Mount Baker (T-AE-34); and the replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO-196). CVW-8 squadrons embarked onboard the Theodore Roosevelt included: Carrier Strike Group Two relieved Carrier Strike Group Eleven (CARSTRKGRU 11), led by the carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68). CARSTRKGRU 2 made port visits to Palma de Mallorca, Spain and Naples, Italy during its rotation with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea and subsequenttly transited the Suez Canal on 27 September 2005. On 6 October 2005, Carrier Air Wing 8 began air combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Fighter squadrons VF-213 and VF-31, along with the strike fighter squadron VFA-87 and VFA-15, flew in support coalition ground forces in Iraq. Electronic Attack Squadron 141 (VAQ-141) were operated out of Al Asad, Iraq, from Septtember 24 to October 6, 2005, flying 37 combat sorties. Sixty-three personnel from the squadron were flown from the Theodore Roosevelt in support of this mission. Aircraft from Carrier Airbone Early Warning Squadron 124 (VAW-124), Sea Control Squadron 24 (VS-24), and Helicopter Squadron 3 (HS-3) flew missions in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO) to help promote stability in the maritime environment. CVW-8 aircraft supported Operation Steel Curtain (OSC) throughout the second week of November, conducting 5 consecutive days of strikes against terrorist targets in support of coalition troops in Iraq.

On 6 February 2006, a chapter in naval aviation history drew to a close when the last Grumman F-14 Tomcat was recovered from a combat mission landed onboard the Theodore Roosevelt. This deployment also marked the final mission for the Navy's last two F-14 squadrons, VF-31 and VF-213, as well as the final deployment of the Lockheed S-3 Viking ASW aircraft of VS-24. The strike group completed its deployment when CARSTRKGRU 2 transited the Suez Canal on 15 February 2006, and Carrier Strike Group Two returned to Norfolk on 11 March 2006.

USS Theodore Roosevelt maintenance & yard overhaul period
On 7 March 2007, USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) began a nine-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) in Norfolk, which saw the addition of RAM missiles, JP-5 (fuel system) alteration, and installation of a new electronic throttle system in the ship’s propulsion plants, among other upgrades. On 17 December 2007, Carrier Strike Group Two operated together for the first time since the Theodore Roosevelt completed its PIA at Norfolk Naval Shipyard three weeks earlier. Joining TR were the guided-missile destroyers USS The Sullivans (DDG-68) and USS Mason (DDG-87) and the guided-missile cruisers USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55) aznd USS Monterey (CG-61).

Joint Task Force Exercise 08-4: Operation Brimstone
July 21–31, 2008, over 15,000 service members from four countries participated in Joint Task Force Exercise 08-4 (JTFEX 08-4), code-named Operation Brimstone, in North Carolina and off the eastern U.S. coast from Virginia to Florida. It served as a ready-for-deployment certification event for Carrier Strike Group Two (CSG-2) and the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (IWO ESG). It also served as a Joint Task Force Capable Headquarters sustainment event. JTFEX 08-4 offered preliminary accreditation for the Second Fleet's Maritime Headquarters with Maritime Operations Center (MHQ with MOC)) which offer a new approach to command and control for fleet commanders. Vice Admiral Marty Chanik, Commander U.S. Second Fleet, noted:

"This exercise is a tremendous opportunity to train; not only as the Navy and Marine Corps team, but with our joint and coalition partners as well. JTFEX 08-4 will flex our warfighting capabilities from the operational level through expeditionary strike force and strike group operations with several of our coalition partners – France, Brazil and the United Kingdom."

The exercise also marked the first time that forces from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC), under the command of Rear Admiral Mike Tillotson, participated in an East-Coast JTFEX. NECC forces operating in the littorals and riverine environment supported integrated operations.

Carrier Strike Group Two (CARSTRKGRU 2) consisted of the carrier Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71); Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8); the guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG-61); DESRON-22 guided-missile destroyers USS The Sullivans (DDG-68), USS Mason (DDG-87), and USS Nitze (DDG-94); and the nuclear attack submarine USS Springfield (SSN-761). The Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (IWO ESG) consisted of amphibious assault helicopter carrier USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7); the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (26 MEU); the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD-17); the dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD-50); the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG-72); the guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG-61) and USS Roosevelt (DDG-80); and the nuclear attack submarine USS Hartford (SSN-768). British light aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (R07), the Brazilian frigate Greenhalgh (F-46), and the French nuclear submarine Améthyste, also participated in the exercise, with Greenhalgh being first Brazilian Navy ship to operate integrated in a U.S. strike group.

The Navy Expeditionary Combat Task Group (NECTG) is made up of Riverine Group 1 staff augmented with personnel from throughout the NECC force; Riverine Squadron 1 (RIVRON 1); Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron Ten; an air detachment from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 11 (NMCB-11); Navy Cargo Handling Battalion 3 (NCHB-3); and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 6.

Ships that participated in the exercise as simulated opposition forces included the guided missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG-56), USS Normandy (CG-60), and USS Anzio (CG-68); the guided-missile destroyers USS Carney (DDG-64), USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79), and USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81); and the guided-missile frigate USS Carr (FFG-52).

French Rafale fighter aircraft assigned to Flottile 12F and French Hawkeye early warning aircraft assigned to Flottile 4F conducted carrier qualifications and cyclic flight operations with Carrier Air Wing 8 during the exercise, marking the first integrated U.S. and French carrier qualifications and cyclic flight operations conducted aboard a U.S. aircraft carrier.

2008–2009 MED Deployment
On 8 September 2008, Carrier Strike Group Two departed for its regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. The strike group conisted of the carrier Theodore Roosvelt; Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8); guided-missile cruiser USS Monterey (CG-61); the guided-missile destroyers USS The Sullivans (DDG-68), USS Mason (DDG-87), and USS Nitze (DDG-94); the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Springfield (SSN-761); and the fast combat support ship USNS Supply (T-AOE-6). CVW-8 squadrons embarked onboard nuclear aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) included: On 9 October 2008, Theodore Roosevelt and the guided missile crusier USS Monterey (CG-61) participated in a one-day theater security cooperation (TSC) exercise with three South African warships and one French Navy warship in the Indian Ocean following a 3-day port visit to Cape Town.

On 18 October 2008, CVW-8 aircraft commenced combat air support for Operation Enduring Freedom from the strike group's station in the northern Arabian Sea. CVW-8 aircraft flew more than 3,100 sorties into Afghanistan and dropped 59,500 pounds of ordnance while providing vital close air support to coalition forces operating as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Between 5–14 March 2009, Theodore Roosevelt, the crusier USS Lake Champlain (CG-57), and the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719) participated in the international naval exercise Aman 2009 off the coast of Pakistan during the CARSTRKGRU 2's 2008 overseas deployment. On 21 March 2009, Carrier Strike Group Two was relieved by Carrier Strike Group Eight, led by the carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), and following a 4-day port visit to Portsmouth, England, CARSTRKGRU 2 returned to Norfolk on 18 April 2008, completing a seven-month deployment.

CARSTRKGRU 2 Flagship Changeover
Since its redesignation, Carrier Strike Group Two has undertaken three overseas MED deployments to provide combat air support for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, as well as regional maritime security operations (MSO) and various training exercises, prior to the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)'s Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) in 2009. With the Theodore Roosevelt RCOH, the newly-commissioned carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) was assigned to Carrier Strike Group Two as its flagship, with the Bush's maiden overseas deployment scheduled for 2011.

Operation Unified Response
More than 172 sailors from the Carrier Strike Group Two took part in Operation Unified Response, the relief effort for earthquaked-ravaged Haiti. Rear Admial David M. Thomas and his command staff were charged with providing the command and control to manage the movement of food, water, medical supplies and relief personnel to Haiti from Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and ships operating off the coast. Thomas assumed command of Task Force 41, the U.S. Navy’s sea-based element supporting JTF-Haiti, on 1 Feb 2010, after USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and its strike group departed the area. CARSTRKGRU 2 staff alternated between being embarked aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) and living in tents outside of the U.S. Embassy in Port-Au-Prince until late March. Most of the staff returned to Naval Station Norfolk by 25 March 2010 after a 70-day tour of duty, with Rear Admiral Thomas returning on 1 April 2010.

Change of command
On 29 July 2010, Rear Admiral Nora W. Tyson (pictured) assumed command of Carrier Strike Group Two (CARSTRKGRU 2) from Captain Jeffrey Hesterman, acting strike group commander, onboard CARSTRKGRU 2's new flagship, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush, at Naval Station Norfolk. The Chief of Naval Operation, Admiral Gary Roughead had announced Admiral Tyson's CARSTRKGRU 2 appointment on 28 January 2010, and he attended the change of command ceremonies. Admiral Tyson became the 69th linear commander of Carrier Strike Group Two, and she also became the first woman to command a U.S. Navy carrier task group.

On 20 September 2010, Admiral Tyson and her CSG-2 flag staff embarked onboard the George H.W. Bush for the first time. The George H.W. Bush Strike Group will conduct a series of training exercises and at-sea certifications prior to its 2011 overseas deployment.

Training exercises
On 4 October 2010, the carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) departed Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, to begin its Tailored Ship's Training Availability/Final Evaluation Period (TSTA/FEP) in preparation for the ship's upcoming combat deployment in 2011. TSTA is an assessment of how shipboard training is conducted with the objective to develop and enhance the crew's ability to self-train. FEP is an evaluation of the crew's ability to conduct combat missions, support air wing operations while maintaining casualty control, and survive complex casualty control situations. Twenty-five inspectors from Afloat Training Group (ATG) Atlantic embarked aboard Bush, assessing the ship's damage control, medical responses, seamanship and navigation, weapons, integrated training teams, and the integration of Carrier Air Wing 8 (CVW-8) with the ship's Air Department.

On 29 October 2010, sea and air assets assigned to the Carrier Strike Group Two successfully sank the decommissioned U.S. Navy combat stores ship USNS Saturn (T-AFS 10) during a sinking exercise (SINKEX) in the Atlantic Ocean situated 250 nmi off the coast of North Carolina. The guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG-57); the guided-missile cruisers USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) and USS Gettysburg (CG-64); carrier-based aircraft and helicopters from Carrier Air Wing 8; and land-based aircraft from Patrol Squadron 10 (VP-10) and Patrol Squadron 45 (VP-45) participated in this exercise. Also, on 3 December 2010, while conducting carrier qualifications, the carrier George H.W. Bush delivered aid to a stranded sailboat in distress approximately 90 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

2011 Operations
On 12 January 2011, the Spanish guided-missile frigate Almirante Juan De Borbón arrived at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, prior to the warship's participation with Carrier Strike Group Two during its Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) predeployment underway training cycle.

On 19 January 2011, Carrier Strike Group Two (CARSTRKGRU 2) departed Naval Station Norfolk to undergo its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX), a series of training exercises and at-sea certifications prior to its 2011 overseas deployment. CARSTRKGRU 2 included the carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) and its embarked Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8); the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG-68); the guided-missile destroyers USS Truxtun (DDG-103), USS Gettysburg (CG-64), and USS Mitscher (DDG-57); the Spanish guided-missile frigate Almirante Juan de Borbón, and the French destroyer Primauguet.

On 11 February 2011, Carrier Strike Group Two completed its three-week COMPTUEX training. CARSTRKGRU 2 boarding teams performed almost 20 practice visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) evolutions, while Carrier Air Wing Eight flew 1,808 sorties for a total of 3,777 hours of flight time. COMCARSTRKGRU 2 Rear Admiral Nora Tyson noted: "I am extremely proud of the George H.W. Bush Strike Group's performance during COMPTUEX. Our Strike Group and coalition team have come together and formed an effective and cohesive fighting unit."

Carrier Strike Group Two paid a call to Naval Station Mayport on 11 February and subsequently departed for its Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) pre-deployment training exercises on 14 February. The strike group's JTFEX was supported by personnel from NATO's Headquarters Naval Striking and Support Forces (STRIKFORNATO), with representatives from Canada, Denmark, Greece, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdon, and the United States involved in the scenario-driven tactical exercise that focused on major combat operations. This was the first time that STRIKFORNATO had participated as a component commander in a carrier strike group certification. Its purpose is to increase multilateral interoperability among allied military forces. Carrier Strike Group Two was certified as being combat ready on 21 February 2011 following the successful completion of its COMPTUEX and JTFEX pre-deployment training exercises.