level and the ability of the personnel to work together
as a team. Various systems and subsystems can em-
ploy computer training programs and simulators/
stimulators to provide equipment and systems oper-
ators with simulated operational environments for
training purposes.
As a supervisor, you should be familiar with the
training programs and simulators/stimulators appli-
cable to your ship’s equipment or systems configura-
tion. And you should make maximum use of the
capabilities to fine-tune your operators and combat
systems team. This training can be very effective
when a ship is not actively operating.
Combat Direction Systems
Operator Training
A variety of training is available for combat di-
rection systems operators who perform duties in the
combat information center (CIC). Team training is
available at land-based facilities, as well as aboard
ship, Land-based facilities combine classroom in-
struction and hands-on team training by using system
mock-ups. Fleet technical support centers (FTSCs)
may provide onboard team training by using the
ship’s actual equipment. Ship personnel may run in-
dividualized and team training by using training
programs and simulators/stimulators aboard ship.
Ships that are equipped with naval tactical data
systems (NTDSs) may conduct individualized train-
ing on the basic operation of CIC consoles with
hands-on instruction combined with the lesson trans-
lator (L-TRAN) program. Further training is best ac-
complished with a combination of individualized and
team training.
Combat systems team training is accomplished
by using a variety of simulation/stimulation systems.
These systems simulate data, commands, and re-
sponses required for real-time testing, training, and
evaluation. They are (1) land-based, (2) part of the
ship’s equipment, or (3) a combination of both.
Additional team training may be conducted in
pierside vans, such as the 20B5 or other pierside
trainers, to provide coordinated stimulation of the
ship’s sensors with a variety of scenarios. The advan-
tage of onboard training is that the operators can use
the equipment in its own configuration, which is not
always possible at land-based facilities.
Combat Systems/Weapons
Operator Training
Combat systems/weapons operator training is
essential to an effective combat climate. In gun and
missile fire-control systems, a test mode usually pro-
vides simulated targets and jamming. The targets can
be tracked, and simulated engagements can be con-
ducted.
The combat systems/weapons equipment, includ-
ing gun mounts and missile launchers, can be exer-
cised by using simulated targets. Guided-missile
training rounds that incorporate a guided-missile
simulator are used with the missile launchers to sim-
ulate tactical missiles.
Many of the tests designed to verify operational
capabilities of the combat systems and individual
subsystems provide operational training of equip-
ment operators by using procedural instructions
identical or similar to the actual tactical operating
procedures. The degree of training provided for each
subsystem varies with the function of the equipment
used and the testing philosophy of each subsystem.
NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT
QUALIFICATION
All ships assigned shore bombardment or naval
gunfire support (NGFS) have a required operational
capability to maintain an NGFS qualification. Gene-
rally, this requirement includes ships with 5-inch-
caliber and larger guns.
Unless revoked, qualification normally lasts for
15 months. For example, if a ship were to complete
the first of several required exercises in January 1995
and the last required exercise in February 1995, it
would be qualified until 30 April 1996. All exercises
do not need to be completed at the same time, al-
though that is encouraged for the maximum use of
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