William Morrison of Bainbridge, who is assigned with the George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group, recently took part in a sinking exercise in the Atlantic Ocean. Morrison, who is of the HSM-70, embarked aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64), fires a .50-caliber machine gun from his MH-60R Seahawk helicopter at the ex-U.S. Navy’s Saturn. Ships from Destroyer Squadron 22 and aircraft from Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8, along with NAS Jacksonville-based patrol aircraft from VP-10 and VP-45, participated in the real-world tactical training exercise with surface-to-surface and air-to-surface live fire. The guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57) and the guided-missile cruisers USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and USS Gettysburg (CG 64) launched missiles, fired 5-inch guns, Close-In Weapons System (CIWS) plus 25-mm and .50-caliber weapons. In addition, aircraft and helicopters from CVW 8 launched from Bush and employed bombs and air-to-surface missiles during the exercise. As the strike group prepares for its combat deployment in spring 2011, the exercise provided a unique opportunity to practice combat scenarios.