Sailors stand watch on the bridge of the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) during a sea and anchor detail as the ship transits from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Va. to Naval Station Mayport, Fla. Freedom is conducting training operations off the East Coast of the United States. Photo credit: MCS2 Rafael Martie, USN. Freedom has successfully conducted independent ship deployment training and certification at sea, November 13-21, 2009. She operated with the USS Eisenhower (CVN 69) Carrier Strike Group. Ike would indeed be proud, yet again. This was a significant milestone and brings Freedom one step closer to her first operatiobnal deployment to the US Southern Command in early 2010. Lt. Ed Early, USN, wrote this:
"After avoiding heavy weather off the East Coast, Freedom departed Mayport, Fla., Nov. 13 with the Blue Crew and Cmdr. Kristy Doyle, the Blue Crew commanding officer. During the three days that followed, CSFTL (Commander, Strike Force Training) assessors put the crew through an intensive series of underway scenarios designed to evaluate their ability to execute maritime security missions both as an independent unit and as part of a larger force. CSFTL presented Freedom with realistic missions in rapid succession to stress planning and decision-making. From self-defense against air and surface threats, to maritime interception operations, electronic warfare, common tactical picture management and datalink operations, the team performed well and met every challenge. Freedom returned to Naval Station Mayport for a 'hot swap' between the Blue Crew and the Gold Crew. The Gold Crew Commanding Officer Cmdr. Randy Garner and his crew then headed back out to sea, this time for five days of integrated training. Despite not having been on the ship for several months, the Gold Crew quickly settled in and successfully completed its training regimen."
