ATLANTIC OCEAN — The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99), along with the “Swamp Foxes” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74, completed a rigorous Task Force Exercise (TFEX) Sept. 18

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) fires an MK38 25mm gun in the Atlantic Ocean, Sep. 5, 2026. Farragut is underway participating in Task Force Exercise (TFEX). Led by Carrier Strike Group 4, TFEX serves as a certification exercise for independently-deploying units to test mission readiness and ensure sustained combat capability within Joint Force and Allied command structures. (U.S. Navy photo by Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Ymara S. Walden)

Led by Commander, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 4, TFEX is a targeted, high-tempo training evolution designed to certify independently deploying units, ensuring naval forces can rapidly integrate and deliver flexible, lethal warfighting options to combatant commanders worldwide.

Farragut’s successful completion of the exercise validates the warship’s operational readiness and demonstrates the U.S. Navy’s ability to generate combat-credible forces prepared for sustained, high-end maritime operations.

“Training and certifying our Naval forces necessitate placing our ships and watch teams in the most realistic and challenging operational scenarios we can design,” said Rear Adm. Michael Spencer, commander, Carrier Strike Group 4. “Throughout TFEX, Farragut’s crew demonstrated exceptional poise, tactical discipline, and teamwork across every phase. They sail over the horizon fully prepared to dominate against any threat, capable of delivering decisive combat naval power anywhere on the globe.”

As part of the integrated phase of the U.S. Navy’s training continuum, exercises like TFEX are tailored to simulate emerging operational challenges in dynamic security environments. CSG-4 structures complex, scenario-driven events using a blend of live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) methodologies to test crews against modern operational environments and peer-adversary tactics.

Training Support Vessel Squadron (TSVRON) 4, along with subordinate commands Tactical Training Group Atlantic (TACTRAGRULANT) and Expeditionary Warfare Training Group Atlantic (EWTGLANT), supported the execution of these multi-domain scenarios at sea.

The intense certification period tested every facet of Farragut’s combat systems, damage control, and warfighting watch teams.

“The rigorous training scenarios provided during Task Force Exercise tested Farragut’s crew and drove them to excel across the full spectrum of combat operations,” said Cmdr. Joshua Cowart, commanding officer of USS Farragut. “In the spirit of our namesake’s famous rally cry, ‘Damn the torpedoes,’ our combat team rose to meet every challenge across all warfare domains, demonstrating to the nation that we stand ready to deliver decisive combat power whenever and wherever called upon.”

Farragut is a multi-mission guided-missile destroyer capable of conducting air warfare (AW), undersea warfare (USW), surface warfare (SUW), and naval surface fire support (NSFS). The ship operates either independently or as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, or combined joint forces.

Embarked aboard Farragut, MH-60R Seahawk helicopters attached to the “Swamp Foxes” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74, provide critical airborne surveillance, strike coordination, electronic warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, significantly expanding the ship’s situational awareness and combat reach.

CSG-4 mentors, trains, and assesses naval forces for global combat and delivers certified, combat-ready forces to Commander, Task Force 80 and U.S. Fleet Forces Command. Capable of full-spectrum integrated maritime, joint, and combined operations, CSG-4 includes subordinate commands EWTGLANT, TACTRAGRULANT, and TSVRON-4.

From Petty Officer 1st Class Chelsea Palmer, Sept. 22, 2026