Dickson, James, FCC

Aegis Training and Readiness Center (ATRC) was formally established as a training command in November 1984. The facility opened for training in October 1985 with the first class of 14 students graduating on Dec. 18, 1985, from the Aegis Computer Fundamentals course. Headquartered at the Rear Admiral Wayne E. Meyer Aegis Education Center, Dahlgren, Va., ATRC's core mission is training military personnel in the operation, maintenance, and employment of the Aegis Combat Weapons System and the operation and employment of the Ship's Self Defense System. The first building was erected in 1984 as A-Wing of Ticonderoga Hall, named for the Ticonderoga-class cruisers. In 1988, BWing was added, and in 1990 Arleigh Burke Hall was constructed as C-Wing and named after the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. A final Wing was added in 1999,Huchting Hall. 

The Aegis Weapon System has evolved into a fast reaction, high performance, computerized system using the latest radar technology to detect contacts and engage threats. The Aegis Combat System is a functional grouping of theAegisWeapons Systems with Anti-Air, Ballistic Missile Defense, Anti- Submarine,Anti-Surface and Strike warfare, and associated weapons and communications equipment. Each element of these overall systems is taught at the ATRC. As the weapons systems evolve, courses are tailored to support differences between equipment found on the various Aegis ships.  After completing intensive training each student becomes a vital part of their assigned ship's Combat Systems team and assists in highly detailed procedures designed to ensure total combat readiness of the individual ship and that of the Strike Group it is part of.