28,000 Troops to Participate in JNTC Exercise
June 07, 2004

The Department of Defense today announced that more than 28,000 U.S. and allied service members will participate in Combined Joint Task Force Exercise (CJTFEX) 04-2, culminating in its final phase from June 12 through 22, 2004.

CJTFEX 04-2 will present U.S. and multinational forces with realistic and dynamic exercise scenarios that closely replicate operational challenges military forces routinely encounter around the world. This is the first Joint National Training Capability (JNTC) integration event where training focuses on functional component commands. It is designed to provide high-quality, realistic training to prepare U.S. forces for joint and combined operations. CJTFEX 04-2 also provides the opportunity to certify the U.S. Navy’s USS John F. Kennedy carrier strike group.

Participating forces will train using equipment and systems that incorporate the latest advances in technology, and support the full range of capabilities that may be required in various geographic theaters.

This exercise provides all participants with invaluable experience in joint and coalition operations, and I’m especially impressed with the innovation and technical acumen that is enabling this JNTC event, said Vice Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. Second Fleet and Striking Fleet Atlantic, who will be the CJTFEX 04-2 commander. Achieving and maintaining more agile, responsive and connected forces means we must train efficiently and effectively. We’re challenging all assumptions, and this advanced joint training does exactly that, he added.

Live forces will conduct CJTFEX 04-2 throughout the southeastern United States, and along the Atlantic seaboard of the United States, while virtual participants will join the exercise from twenty different sites as far away as Naval Air Station Fallon, Nev., and Fort Bliss, Texas.

Participating in the exercise are forces from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Peru, Norway, Italy, Denmark, and France.

For more information on this exercise and media opportunites, contact Capt. Michael Armistead at (757) 686-7193.