U.S. 2nd Fleet Hosts Theatre Undersea Warfare Symposium
04 August 2023
NORFOLK, Va. - Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet held a Theater Undersea Warfare (TUSW) Symposium and Fleet Synthetic Training (FST) to collaborate between naval assets to face future undersea challenges at Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, Norfolk, August 1-3.
The goal of the symposium and training are to simulate various command, control and communication exercises with both real-world and digital assets to integrate capabilities between surface ships, submarines and aircrafts to fine tune defense strategies in the Atlantic Ocean. The exercises prepare Sailors for deployments and other potential real-world scenarios.
Vice Adm. Daniel Dwyer, Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, opened the symposium by welcoming the various units in attendance and reiterating the importance of collaboration between naval assets.
“The symposium challenges participants by asking what they can bring to the fight and how we can collectively be our best,” Dwyer said. “The U.S. Navy is the service that is solely responsible for antisubmarine warfare, and we must be ready to respond to whatever challenges come our way. This is a total Navy team effort from every community.”
The TUSW symposium is an annual event with the goal to provide training to Sailors in real-time to prepare for what they may expect in the real world. Fleet synthetic trainings (FST) allow for communication, innovation and creation of emerging techniques. Techniques that may also come from other events such as the Junior Officer Undersea Symposium and Training (JOUST) that occurs annually for junior officers globally.
“We have a very challenging problem set, and I have total confidence in our incredibly skilled, talented and capable members here today,” said Dwyer. “You must be the top of your game and willing to collaborate with all of our undersea warfare capable assets.”
Rear Adm. Martin Muckian, Commander, Submarine Group TWO and Deputy Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet, closed the symposium with discussing the importance of teamwork in undersea warfare.
“The TUSW symposium is a building block to future exercises that aide in responding to real world events,” said Muckian. “The coordination across platforms is imperative to our success. Each unit from the crew level all the way up to the squadron level supports one another to support the mission.
Rear Adm. Muckian also visited the USS Oscar Austin (DDG-79) to observe the FST first-hand. The FST provides a training environment for Sailors to prepare them for potential future challenges while at shore or at sea.
“The work that the crew onboard the Oscar Austin is doing is an ideal example of training how we fight,” said Muckian. “The ship is utilizing any shortcomings during training to use those lessons as an opportunity to get stronger for the future.”
The TUSW symposium and FST both provide a platform for warfighters to discuss capabilities, techniques and procedures to improve integration with one another in defending the homeland. Crewmembers from nine surface ships, seven submarines, three aviation squadrons and various shore-based commands participated in the symposium and synthetic training.
U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs maritime forces ready to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.
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