{"id":272207,"date":"2024-09-04T13:40:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-04T13:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=272207"},"modified":"2024-09-05T14:43:33","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T14:43:33","slug":"ssp-strengthens-warfighting-foundations-cultivates-get-real-get-better-mindset-for-ssgn-sailors-during-revamped-aws-session","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=272207","title":{"rendered":"SSP Strengthens Warfighting Foundations, Cultivates Get Real Get Better Mindset for SSGN Sailors during Revamped AWS Session"},"content":{"rendered":"
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WASHINGTON NAVY YARD – \u201cAttack Weapons System (AWS) day is the opportunity to put a face to Strategic Systems Programs (SSP),\u201d said Lt. Robert Clarke, the Ohio-Class Guided Missile Nuclear Submarine (SSGN)<\/a> weapons officer and the SSGN fleet liaison officer for SSP.<\/p>\n

In true Get Real Get Better<\/a> (GRGB) mindset, the uniformed and civilian team of Clarke and Stephen Buchanan, a Navy civilian and the branch engineer for SSP\u2019s SSGN Strike Program, collaborated to institute an overhaul to the day-long AWS session. The revamped forum\u2014hosted Wednesday at Strategic Weapons Facility (SWFLANT) on Sub Base Kings Bay\u2014gave SSGN sailors a refreshed opportunity to share post-deployment lessons learned; discuss challenges; and interface directly with industry partners, technical experts, and other fleet sailors in a more collaborative way.<\/p>\n

Sailors from Blue and Gold crews aboard USS Florida (SSGN 728) and USS Georgia (SSGN 729) attended the session and had the opportunity to speak directly to the technical experts from SSP\u2014much different from the presentation-heavy format AWS followed in the past.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it is a crucial part of being an operator to understand the things you are being asked to operate,\u201d said Clarke, highlighting the value of how programs like the AWS session can help sailors with procedural compliance and to develop a depth of knowledge about the equipment they are operating.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe want to make sure we give them [the sailor] the tools they need to successfully do their jobs,\u201d Clarke said. \u00a0<\/p>\n

SSP\u2014the command with cradle-to-grave responsibility for the nation\u2019s sea-based nuclear deterrent\u2014also manages the AWS program for the nation\u2019s four SSGNs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As these four boats begin reaching their last development cycle\u2014and also inch closer to their hull\u2019s end of life\u2014Clarke and Buchanan took a hard look at the procedures SSP provides sailors in the fleet with a goal of using the Sailors\u2019 real-time feedback from the tactical and operational level to institute changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the agenda items gave fleet sailors the opportunity to brief out fleet issues to each other and share common lessons learned,\u201d explained Buchanan.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we are doing from the SSP perspective is taking notes on action items from the technical perspective from which we can develop solutions and fixes. \u2026we want fleet sailor\u2019s voices to be heard since they are the weapon system operators.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n

The Missile Technology submariner<\/a> rating and training is managed by SSP, and SSGN sailors are at the pinnacle of naval integrated and all-domain warfare. SSGN submarines, with their unique capabilities, are providing regional maritime security and stability on a global scale. The ships represent more than half of the submarine force’s conventional vertical launch payload and are capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles.<\/p>\n

Missile Technician<\/a> First Class Aaron Akin\u2014a USS George (Blue) crew member\u2014noted the session\u2019s collaborative environment offered greater opportunity to share experiences with the cohort.<\/p>\n

\u201cKnowledge is better shared among peers\u2026 [and] the benefit of discussing common lessons learned allows for freer and more rapid dissemination of information,\u201d Akin said. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can share tips and tricks that did and didn\u2019t work for you, and with Florida just getting back, they have a lot they can share with the Georgia crews.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 727 day deployment of USS Florida<\/a> and the recent deployment of USS Georgia (SSGN 729)<\/a> to the Central Command region\u2014given escalating tensions in the Middle East\u2014drive home the need for America\u2019s Warfighting Navy to equip its people with the right skills, tools, training, and mindset to operate the platforms and successfully execute each mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt [AWS session reformat] provides that instant feedback between the user and the contractor on this weapons system,\u201d said Lt. Cmdr. Kyle Milden, the weapons officer for Submarine Squadron 16 and the former weapons officer aboard USS Florida.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis gives us an advantage to close the loop on any challenges the operators are experiencing, which improves the overall quality on the AWS system.\u201d<\/p>\n

Milden explained that as a weapons officer, it is critical for his operators to be able to see and understand the AWS and the alerts\u2014and to provide him with rapid information when a response is needed. Though SSP\u2019s mission is program-management focused, the command has a dedicated fleet liaison within its Operations, Evaluations, and Training Branch (SP205) whose job is to form connective tissue between the highly technical side of SSP\u2019s mission and the warfighter\u2019s operational readiness needs at sea. Milden explained he is able to take messages or feedback from the Missile Technicians to the fleet liaison and get the technical expertise he needs to communicate fixes back to his sailors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t do what we do without SSP\u2019s and SWFLANT\u2019s support,\u201d said Milden.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey keep us [pointed in the] right direction and also ensuring the AWS gets the critical updates it needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Every SSGN sailor that stays in the MT rating eventually serves aboard the nation\u2019s Ballistic Missile Submarines responsible for the Navy\u2019s sea-based strategic deterrence.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cWe want to positively impact the sailor mindset with a culture of excellence that will allow them to be successful practitioners of their craft long into their career.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fire Control Technician<\/a> (FT) Second Class David Bagby is a USS Georgia (Blue) crew member who participated in the revamped AWS session. As an FT, Bagby\u2019s job is to maintain and operate advanced electronic equipment for the missile system. Bagby has served on an SSGN and an SSBN. He said the change in format for this session was more beneficial to the sailor\u2019s need for real-time, up-to-date information.<\/p>\n

\u201cI prefer the format of this session because you talk with others who have experienced a problem versus listening to someone who just sees the information or might be referencing outdated examples.\u201d<\/p>\n

MT2 David Espinoza from USS Florida\u2019s Gold crew echoed that sentiment.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving discussions is great because it gives crews from the GNs an opportunity to express their way of approaching problems.\u201d
Clarke and Buchanan\u2019s change to the briefing not only creates a more collaborative environment for sailors but also prioritizes warfighting advantages for the Navy\u2019s players on the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t just about simply providing us information,\u201d said Buchanan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about bolstering the ashore-afloat relationship, and we want the crews to have something to take back with them that will positively impact the culture and mission of the Navy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

SSP\u2019s AWS reformat encompasses the spirit of the Navy\u2019s GRGB initiative, which bolsters warfighting advantage for sailors and ultimately provides for the security of the nation. GRGB was established in 2022 to provide a framework for teams to cultivate attitudes of self-assessment and self-correction; an \u2018always-learning\u2019 mindset; the ability to adapt; and the capabilities to create rapid and effective solutions to problems.<\/p>\n

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WASHINGTON NAVY YARD – \u201cAttack Weapons System (AWS) day is the opportunity to put a face to Strategic Systems Programs (SSP),\u201d said Lt. Robert Clarke, the Ohio-Class Guided Missile Nuclear Submarine (SSGN) weapons officer and the SSGN fleet liaison officer for SSP. In true Get Real Get Better (GRGB) mindset, the uniformed and civilian team […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":272209,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-272207","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272207","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=272207"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272207\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":272210,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/272207\/revisions\/272210"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/272209"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=272207"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=272207"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=272207"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}