Enterprise battle group commences training at Vieques

05/02/2001 - NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- U.S. Navy ships and aircraft,including units of the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Carrier Battle Group en route to the Mediterranean, recently commenced essential combat training in the outer ranges of the Puerto Rico Operating Area and the Vieques Inner Range. Scheduled to conclude this week, the training will include ship-to-shore gunnery as well as air-to-ground bombing exercises at the Vieques Inner Range. All ordnance fired from ships and aircraft onto the Vieques Inner Range will be non-explosive. This training is required to certify naval gunnery crews in the use of five- inch guns, critical to combat readiness, and to complete other requirements not met in previous training exercises due to the unavailability of the Vieques Range Complex. This type and quality of training cannot be accomplished anywhere else. Units of the USS Enterprise Battle Group departed their respective homeports Wednesday, April 25th. Vieques remains the sole location in the Atlantic where naval units can qualify in Naval Surface Fire Support (NSFS) and conduct the combined arms training required prior to deploying to areas of potential hostilities in support of U.S. foreign policy.