While USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) continues to complete its tasks for the Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMTUEX), another ship several miles away is proving itself, becoming the newest part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Momsen (DDG 92) has been serving CSG 9 as a multi-mission capable platform. Surface and air surveillance, surface-to-air warfare, anti-submarine sweeps, and participating in strike warfare are just some of the abilities it has been providing as defense to Lincoln and its strike group. Its principal function is to conduct maritime security, interdiction, and interception operations.

“We’ve been boarding other ships,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jake Douglas, executive officer of USS Momsen. “We inspect their cargo and basically look for smugglers or any terrorist activity.”

Prior to getting underway last October, Momsen performed independent training where it proved its ability to manage itself independently. Now, during COMTUEX, Momsen is training with the other four ships within the strike group to work on becoming battle ready as a team component.

“Transferring data and communications, tracking live submarines, combating hostile aircraft … this is all something we can do independently,” Douglas said. “COMTUEX brings a whole other dimension to it. It brings us all together and lets us do all these things in a combined force.”

According to Cmdr. Mike Sparks, commanding officer of USS Momsen, the biggest advantage Momsen is getting from COMTUEX is being able to work collectively with other ships. Momsen’s upcoming cruise will be its first battle group deployment. Its last cruise was a single-ship mission supporting the joint-task force between Indonesia and the Philippines, which was also the ship’s maiden voyage.

“We’re doing really well,” Sparks said. “Momsen has done a great job integrating with the four other ships, including Lincoln and its embarked airwing.”

“The ship has stepped up to the tasks assigned,” Sparks said. “We’re staying motivated, staying focused. It’s been successful so far, and we fully expect to be successful with all of our tasks in the future.”

Momsen is wrapping up the remainder of its COMTUEX undertakings and will be returning to Everett, Wash., with the rest of Lincoln’s Strike Group.