page_title: Carrier Strike Group 9
section_title: 2013–2015 operations
hierarchical_section_title: Carrier Strike Group 9 / Operational history / 2013–2015 operations
caption_attribution_description: English: A U.S. Navy McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 "Blue Blasters" lands on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). Ronald Reagan was underway in the Pacific Ocean, conducting tailored ship's training availability.
context_page_description: Carrier Strike Group 9 is a U.S. Navy carrier strike group. Carrier strike groups gain and maintain sea control as well as project naval airpower ashore.
  It is currently assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is the group's current flagship. Other group units include Carrier Air Wing Seventeen, the Ticonderoga-class cruisers USS Bunker Hill and USS Cape St. George, and Destroyer Squadron 23.
  The strike group traces its history to Cruiser-Destroyer Group 3, created on 30 June 1973 by the re-designation of Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla 11. From 2004 the strike group has made multiple Middle East deployments providing air forces over Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as conducting Maritime Security Operations. The strike group received the Humanitarian Service Medal in recognition of its disaster relief efforts in Indonesia during Operation Unified Assistance in 2004–05.
context_section_description: On 18 November 2013, Carrier Strike Group Nine completed its four-day Fleet Synthetic Training-Joint (FST-J) exercise. Such FST-J exercises simulate virtual at-sea training involving real-world battle scenarios while the ships of the strike group remained docked in port.  Such in-port training allowed shipboard maintenance to be done without delaying required training for upcoming deployments. This FST-J exercise also involved joint forces training in tactics and operations, with units of the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Air Force participating. 
  On 18 November 2013, Carrier Strike Group Nine completed its independent deployer certification exercise (IDCERTEX) held in the U.S. Third Fleet area of operations.  The two-phase IDCERTEX involved intermediate and advanced training for the strike group across the full spectrum of naval warfare operations.  The first phase involved such unit-level training as shipboard firefighting; man overboard drills; visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS); and other ship-specific functions. The second phase involved integrated training between the ships and aircraft of the strike group, and it consisted of flight operations, submarine tracking, strait transit formations, replenishment-at-sea, and other required mission operations.
  On 27 November 2013, Carrier Strike Group Nine was underway to complete its Tailored Ship's Training Assessment (TSTA) pre-deployment exercises as well as prepare for its upcoming Final Evaluation Problem (FEP) exercises. TSTA exercises are designed to prepare the carrier strike group for sustained at-sea combat operations.  This involves the strike group conducting multiple combat missions simultaneously as well as testing shipboard damage control readiness.
  Between 4–12 December 2013, the USS Ronald Reagan was underway conducting routine training in the southern California operations area, and at the start of 2014, the carrier was in port and not underway. Between 23–30 January 2014, the Reagan departed Naval Station San Diego, California, for carrier qualifications prior to undertaking pre-deployment exercises for Carrier Strike Group Nine.  On 17 March 2014, the Reagan resumed its Tailored Ship's Training Availability (TSTA) pre-deployment training exercises (pictured).
  On 17 April 2015, Ronald Reagan departed Naval Air Station North Island, California,  for sea trials following the completing of its  seven-month Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) refit and upkeep cycle.  The Reagan subsequently completed CVW-11/FRS/TRACOM carrier qualifications (CQ) and Combat System Ship's Qualification Trials (CSSQT) before on-loading ammunition from the dry cargo ship USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE-14).
  2013–2014 exercises and port visits
caption: Tailored Ship's Training Availability (18 March 2014)
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