NAVAL STATION NORFOLK – Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC), formerly known as the Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS), in conjunction with Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic (SURFLANT), held a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the new Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Tactical Employment Trainer (ATET) onboard NAVSTA Norfolk, 28 Oct.
 
Rear Adm. Brendan McLane, commander, SURFLANT; Mr. Brian Deters, executive director, SCSTC; Capt. Matthew Rick, commanding officer, SCSTC Hampton Roads; and Capt. Justin Long, commanding officer, SCSTC San Diego, participated in the event.
 
“The ATET will be a game-changer in providing high-fidelity, tactical employment training to our warfighters,” McLane explained. “Its capability to provide our watchstanders a state-of-the-art training lab where they can train in a realistic, multi-ASW team environment will improve combat readiness.”
 
The trainer was funded by Director, Surface Warfare’s (OPNAV N96) program of record, Surface Training Advanced Virtual Environment-Combat Systems (STAVE-CS), which was introduced in 2015 as a means to provide better quality training resulting in more rapid qualifications of our Sailors. 
 
“The ATET enables high fidelity training capability at a fraction of the cost of training live on shipboard systems,” explained Rick, who operates and manages the trainer in Norfolk.  “It provides greater capability and realism on significantly less expensive hardware with greatly reduced footprint than previous land-based facilities.”
 
Aligning to the tenets of the Navy’s Ready, Relevant Learning (RRL), a program created to improve and modernize personnel management and training, the ATET also increases the amount of “reps and sets” Sailors perform on AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 virtualized tactical software, significantly improving the quality of training and maximizing knowledge retention. 
 
“The ATET will be the cornerstone in developing future ASW warfighters to make effective tactical decisions while employing their ship’s sensors and weapons against enemy submarines,” said Long, who will operate and manage an ATET in San Diego.  “Developing crucial decision-making skills and learning how to optimize sensors and weapon systems are key in preparing our warfighters to fight and win.” 
 
The unveiling of the ATET could not have been executed without a team approach.
 
“By working closely with Naval Sea Systems Command’s Surface Ship Training Systems Program Office (PMS 339), Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems (PEO IWS) 5.0, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock Division, NSWC Dahlgren Division, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport, Naval Facilities Engineering Command, and our industry partners, the ATET became a reality,” Deters said.  “The ATET will serve to enhance the proficiencies of our warfighters across the waterfront in creating a culture of excellence, ultimately preparing them for the high-end fight.” Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC)* falls under the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC).  NETC, led by Rear Adm. Peter Garvin, is the U.S. Navy’s Force Development pillar and largest shore command.  Through its “Street to Fleet” focus, NETC recruits civilians and transforms them into skilled warfighters ready to meet the current and future needs of the U.S. Navy. 
 
* The former Center for Surface Combat Systems (CSCS) has been renamed the Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC) as part of a large internal realignment effort. SCSTC is a training organization of over 6,500 staff and students across 12 global locations and implements culture of excellence and warrior toughness by building a Surface Warrior mindset to complement the technical and tactical skillsets of building the kill chain and closing the fire control loop. SCSTC delivers system and platform specific combat systems training to a growing surface Navy. SCSTC delivers training to over 35,000 U.S. Navy Sailors as well as 700 international Sailors from 22 partner nations annually.  Our overall mission is to train the fleet so that our Navy can fight and win! 

Visit SCSTC on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/Surface-Combat-Systems-Training-Command-1480366868885239