The fast combat support ship USS Camden (AOE 2), recently participated in a Joint Task Force Exercise, or JTFEX, off the coast of Southern California from January 25-30 as part of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group.

JTFEX is designed to test the Strike Group’s ability to operate in a complex, hostile environment with other U.S. and coalition forces. During this “graduate-level” exercise, more than 6,500 Sailors and Marines throughout the Strike Group worked together to hone their operational skills in preparation for their upcoming around-the-world deployment.

USS Camden played an integral part in the exercise.  Before the exercise, Camden completed a series of replenishment at sea (RAS) evolutions with USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), USS Antietam (CG 54), USS O’Kane (DDG 77) and USS Mustin (DDG 89). 

This was to ensure all strike group ships had the food, parts, and fuel needed to successfully complete the exercise.

Camden was not the only one working hard while she was alongside other ships. Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC-11), Detachment 6, embarked aboard Camden, transported over 25,000 pounds of much needed cargo and urgent personnel transfers throughout the strike group.

During the exercise, the pilots and crew also assisted in identifying potential threats and participated in a search and rescue as well as a mine hunting exercise. “We were so excited to be such a big part of this exercise,” said Lt. T. Kenneth Morris, one of the HC-11 pilots. “The entire Air Department was proud of their success.”

The Camden is homeported at Bremerton and HC-11, Detachment 6, is homeported at Naval Air Station, North Island, Calif.