Rowden directs all surface ships undergo 'ready for sea assessment'

By Lee Hudson / October 11, 2017 at 2:20 PM

In the wake of multiple collisions in U.S. 7th Fleet, Naval Surface Forces commander Vice Adm. Thomas Rowden is directing that all surface ships undergo a "ready for sea assessment," according to an official information dispatch.

The RFSA is a two-day event for sailors to focus on foundational skills to operate a warship safely. On the first day the training will be in port and the second day, work will be conducted at-sea, the Oct. 11 dispatch reads.

All forward-deployed naval ships in Japan must complete the assessment no later than Jan. 31, 2018, while the remaining surface vessels must be cleared by June 30, 2018.

The Fitzgerald (DDG-62), John S. McCain (DDG-56), Antietam (CG-54) and Lake Champlain (CG-57) were all involved this year in mishaps in U.S. 7th Fleet.

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