SECTION 2

COMMAND ASSESSMENT OF READINESS AND TRAINING (CART)

2201. General. CART is a two phase process intended to be a comprehensive review of readiness. It is a mandatory, reportable evolution for all ships, the product of which is a training plan for the interdeployment period. CART phase I is conducted by the ship's commanding officer and commences around mid-to-end of deployments of four months or longer. CART Phase II shall be conducted by the ISIC once per IDTC or every 18 - 24 months for ships not in IDTC and is conducted after completion of interdeployment training cycle maintenance periods. Assistance will be provided by the Afloat Training Group to coordinate required services and train ships' training teams. The ISIC is the senior observer for the conduct of the CART Phase II. It is emphasized that CART is conducted to support the commanding officer's review of crew mission area proficiency to develop and establish training priorities for the interdeployment training program. Readiness ratings reset to M1 will undergo progressive degradation of readiness from the date of CART completion. The deficiencies which result in readiness ratings reset to M4 form the basis of the unit's interdeployment training plan for accomplishment before the next deployment.

2202. CART Procedures. The procedures for conducting CART are:

a. CART Phase I. Command Assessment of Readiness and Training Phase I is conducted before the end of each major deployment for active units homeported in CONUS or MIDPAC. Ships homeported as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) will conduct CART Phase I four months before (D) SRA/(D) PMA. Non-deploying units will conduct CART Phase I at 18-24 month intervals as scheduled by their ISIC.

(1) Step One. Review formal school training status/needs:

(a) Review and identify personnel shortfalls (critical NEC, billets) via EDVR/ODCR. This review should be completed well enough in advance to provide a timely heads-up to support activities ashore for scheduling training requirements such as school quotas, assists and inspections.

(b) Identify individual school/team training requirements and request quotas.

(c) Identify TADTAR requirements and request augmentation if necessary.

(2) Step Two.

(a) Review basic phase/repetitive elements for material readiness oriented needs that will potentially become part of the work-up requirements (e.g., UNREP SQT (LOG-1-SF/LOG-2-SF)).

(b) Identify potential special training requirements and areas where crew performance is especially strong or weak.

(c) Identify any sensor, weapons system, ship system additions or modifications that will take place during SRA/PMA/UPK periods that will require formal training for existing crew members or enroute training for new personnel. (See paragraph 2109 a.)

(d) Conduct initial material/equipment status review or formal ISIC-coordinated material assessment to determine equipment condition. Reviews shall be conducted using a number of existing programs, such as Preventive Maintenance System, combat systems checkout employing OCSOT, systems testing, or conduct of safety and zone inspections using ship-tailored NAVSAFECEN safety review checklists and proposed Availability Work Package.

(e) Keep ISIC and servicing ATG informed of any issues surfaced in CART I which may impact subsequent training.

(3) Step Three.

ISIC schedule CART II to be conducted normally four to six weeks after the completion of depot level major maintenance availability.

(4) Step Four. Review current PQS program and watchbill:

(a) Review current watchbills for anticipated losses of qualified watchstanders. Make PQS assignments as necessary to maintain continuity after post-deployment leave and upkeep period.

(b) Review current PQS materials on hand, order new books as necessary.

b. CART Phase II. CART Phase II is a performance based assessment of a unit's readiness in each mission area except the amphibious, mine and salvage mission areas. It can be conducted inport or underway based on the ISIC's assessment of the ship's training level and overall circumstances. By assessing material and administrative aspects of training and by reviewing and resetting readiness ratings based on demonstrated mission area proficiency, the CART serves to identify the specific training required during the interdeployment cycle. CART II will normally be four days in length. The tailored training syllabus, developed by the ship in conjunction with the ATG and the ISIC, provides the basis for planning the Tailored Ship's Training Availabilities (TSTAs) which follow.

(1) Step One. The ATG will provide ships with CART checklists to assist in preparing for the CART. Prior to CART Phase II, a coordination meeting will be held on board ship chaired by the ship's commanding officer, with representatives from the ISIC, ATG, and outside agencies providing assistance. The coordination meeting should review CART procedures and resolve any coordination problems with the detailed schedule of events.

(2) Step Two. Mission area team proficiency assessment. ATG will coordinate any support services required for proficiency assessment in each area. To the maximum extent possible, watch teams assessed should include those crew members who will remain on board through the next deployment. One complete, two if possible, Condition III watch teams shall be assessed. CART Phase II will include a review of the ship's self assessment of material condition and administrative documentation to ensure the ship is fully prepared to execute the training syllabus.

(3) Step Three. Conduct the following as appropriate to individual ship type and mission area.

(a) ISIC supported by ATG conduct CART debrief to CO.

(b) The ship, ISIC and ATG will jointly determine the tailored training syllabus and notify the chain of command of training requirements. This will permit early resolution of schedule conflicts, determination of TSTA/specialty warfare area training length and verification of support service availability.

(c) Following completion of CART II, the ISIC will submit a summary of findings in the message format outlined in paragraph 6402.

(4) Step Four. Basic, Intermediate and Advanced exercises normally remain M-1 for two years. Following CART II ISIC will review the ship's exercise data base in the light of CART II results and reset exercises as follows:

(a) Generally, Intermediate and Advanced Phase exercises should be reset to M-4 to reflect the ship's position at the start of the Basic Training Phase. To avoid unnecessary expenditure of ammunition, ISICs should use judgment concerning live fire exercises if the ship still has proficiency. ISICs of FDNF ships should take into account the unique nature of their ships' near continuous involvement in complex forward deployed operations which may justify maintaining certain Intermediate and Advanced Phase exercises at M-1.

(b) Basic Phase exercises will be reviewed and reset to M-1 or M-4. Recognizing that every Basic Phase exercise will not be conducted during CART II, ISIC will infer which M-rating to assign so that resulting mission area M-ratings are representative of CART II performance. After ISIC reset, the ship will submit a TRNGREP within ten working days to reflect the resets. The date of the CART II completion will be used as the date which exercises reset to M-1 are reported as complete.

(4) Step Five. The ship will prepare and ISIC approve any necessary quarterly employment schedule changes based on the approved training plan.

2203. Other Guidelines.

a. Conduct of the appropriate combat system mission area portion of the CART team proficiency assessment with full training device support may not always be possible. However, the ATG will provide/arrange for support to assess all functional areas.

b. The CART process may need to be reinitiated in the event of a major change to the ship's employment schedule.

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