USS Mitscher Participates in Missile Exercise

September 05, 2014

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Arleigh Burke Class Guided Missile Destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57), in company with USS Vicksburg (CG 69) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) participated in a live-fire missile exercise (MISSILEX), Sept. 3.

During the exercise, Mitcher fired a Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) missile.

"USS Mitscher was able to successfully demonstrate the effectiveness of our Aegis Combat Weapons System," said Lt. Gregory Descovich, the tactical action officer (TAO) for the exercise. "This training opportunity provided valuable lessons, which have made our combat team able to execute any mission assigned to us while on deployment," Descovich, from Hercules, California, is the chief engineer on board Mitscher.

A large amount of planning and personnel are required to conduct a safe missile exercise. It is through everyone's care and attention to detail that the steps of a missile exercise get accomplished, and the decisions are all dependent on their teamwork.

"It was exciting. It was nerve-wrecking," said Fire Controlman 2nd Class Jeffrey Goforth, of Vincennes, Indiana, the missile systems supervisor (MSS) for the MISSILEX. I'm very thrilled to be involved in it. It's not every day that you get to fire a missile and not very common for someone to say that they have fired a missile."

Mitscher's commanding officer, Cmdr. Frank E. Brandon, felt inspired by his crew after the exercise.

"Tremendous work by all the Mitschermen," said Brandon, Marion, Ind. "They are what makes this warship great. Very proud!"

Mitcher is preparing for deployment by conducting a group sail with the Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group as part of her Independent Deployer Certification. She will be operating in conjunction with other U.S. Navy warships conducting their own pre-deployment certifications.

Source : US Navy