Enterprise Strike Group Exemplifies CNO's Maritime Strategy

The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. Gary Roughead, along with the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC), Gen. James Conway and Commandant of the Coast Guard, Adm. Thad Allen released the "Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower" on Oct 17. As the maritime strategy was released, Enterprise Strike Group (ENTSG) was executing it while forward deployed in the 5th Fleet area of operations. The new strategy stresses the importance of the Navy's core capabilities of forward presence, deterrence, sea control, and power projection as well as its expanded core capabilities of humanitarian assistance/disaster response and maritime security. ENTSG's assets are currently deployed throughout the Eastern Hemisphere in the performance of those missions.

Enterprise and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 recently showed the flexibility implicit in the maritime strategy when it shifted from the North Persian Gulf and missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) to the North Arabian Sea and OEF within hours. The ENTSG showed the ability of the Navy's assets to move at a moment's notice. Operating in a different part of the world only days apart can present many challenges. ENTSG isn't involved in combat operations only. One of its units, USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), is in the middle of a journey around the continent of Africa, working to foster relationships with other nations and coalition forces. Destroyers in the ENTSG are also involved in counter-piracy missions off the coast of Africa. Ships from the ENTSG are patrolling these areas and assisting mariners in distress whenever possible. The strike group also completed an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise. The ASW training ranged from practicing individual technician skills to coordinating multi-platform deterrent measures. Carrier strike groups hold these exercises routinely to maintain proficiency and demonstrate anti-submarine capabilities. The ENTSG, including Enterprise, CVW-1, CDS 2 and CCSG 12, is doing its part to demonstrate the larger maritime strategy. Enterprise and CVW-1 exercises a full range of capabilities from traditional operations at sea to the boots-on-the-ground missions performed by the 60 individual augmentees of the ENTSG who are currently part of the Navy's presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Enterprise Strike Group will continue to be flexible to create positive effects as well as to build strong relationships with other nations, falling directly inline with the CNO's goals.