Story and photo by
MCSN Luciano Marano
Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

In the high-stakes game of blind man's bluff that is modern anti-submarine warfare (ASW), communication and teamwork are the keys to success. To that end, the Navy relies on highly trained and elite departments such as the Pearl Harbor-based, Commander, Anti-submarine Warfare Force U.S. Third Fleet (CTF-34).

"Our mission is to conduct Theater Anti-submarine Warfare (TASW) in the Third Fleet area of responsibility," said CTF-34 Chief of Staff Capt. Robert Racoosin. "In addition to maintaining a state of readiness, the command is actively involved in both carrier and expeditionary strike group work-ups as part of the Fleet Response Training Plan."

Naval fleets of today combine numerous assets, such as aircraft, submarines and surface ships, under one command.

The U.S. Navy's Third Fleet, headquartered in San Diego, Calif. includes units based along the Pacific coast and Hawaii, and is responsible for the water area in and around the Eastern and Northern Pacific Ocean including Alaska, the Aleutian Islands and even a sector of the Arctic territory.

A strike group is the prime expeditionary unit attached to a fleet and consists of an aircraft carrier or a large-deck amphibious ship and all of its various escort vessels commanded by one admiral. There are 11 carrier strike groups in the navy, 10 based in the United States and one forward-deployed to Japan.

"Our Sailors work closely with U.S. Third Fleet, Commander Submarine Force U.S. Pacific Fleet; Commander, Strike Force Training Pacific; Naval Mine and ASW Command and Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing Two staffs to ensure deploying strike groups are well-trained and able to integrate into U.S. Seventh Fleet TASW operations," said Racoosin.

Every member of the CTF-34 staff understands the importance of their work, and goes about their tasks with enthusiasm and the extreme attention to detail that the mission requires.

"As a strike group transits though the Pacific they are responsible for the area immediately surrounding its group of ships," said Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Rory Carnes, CTF-34 staff member. "We are responsible for the rest of the theater area, and watching for submarine activity around them. The strike group's goal is to find and defend against the enemy submarines."

"It's a little stressful, but you train all the time" said Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 1st Class (AW/SW/AC) Aaron Norton, another CTF-34 staff member. "I really like what I do."

According to Racoosin, an exercise conducted with a strike group is important. It gives the mobile command a chance to practice Navy-wide techniques and established procedures for successful TASW, something the staff of CTF-34 must remain fluent.

"There are a lot of collateral duties that come with an exercise, and a lot of planning and organization," said Operations Specialist 2nd (AW/SW) Class Kalani Dailey, CTF-34 staff member. "Nine times out of 10, when we are conducting an exercise, all our ships and submarines are real and not simulated."

With such a large operational scope involving so many personnel, a Joint Forces exercise can seem a daunting task.

"TASW is by nature a multi-platform evolution," said Racoosin. "While the staff does have considerable expertise, we routinely work closely with subject matter experts from a variety of commands to ensure optimal tactical employment of all available assets."

"These exercises are done to assess the strike group's capabilities," said Lt. Cmdr. Mike Speiser, Canadian Exchange Officer and CTF-34 Executive Planning Officer. "There are a lot of participants, but everybody works together and has a common goal to accomplish the mission."

It may seem to some that America easily has the upper hand in the cutting-edge field of modern submarine warfare; the CTF-34 staff against guards against such dangerous complacency.

"While ASW may appear to have been dormant for some time since the end of the Cold War, there are many potential adversaries throughout the world that not only operate submarines, but continue to procure even more advanced and capable boats," said Racoosin.

It is the continued dedication and hard work of Sailors like the CTF-34 staff which is so essential to keeping our anti-submarine forces technically proficient and well-prepared to accomplish any mission they are called to, especially in hostile or forward-deployed areas.

"Each exercise has its own goals and missions," said Lt. Cmdr. Al Lima, CTF-34 Planning and Training Officer. "The most important thing we are doing is ironing out the communication between the strike groups and the shore forces so as to continue to streamline the process to better accomplish the mission."