USFF MSG 171500Z MAR 26 -- HURREX-CG 26 LETTER OF INSTRUCTION CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/ Generated by OIX GATEWAY HONOLULU HI. Only authorized users may reply. -----OFFICIAL INFORMATION DISPATCH FOLLOWS----- RTTUZYUW RUOIAAA0001 0761500-UUUU--RHSSSUU. ZNR UUUUU R 171500Z MAR 26 MID180038627032U FM COMUSFLTFORCOM NORFOLK VA TO ALFLTFORCOM ALLTF80 AFLOAT CNIC WASHINGTON DC COMEXPSTRKGRU TWO COMFOURTHFLT COMNAVAIRLANT NORFOLK VA COMNAVDIST WASHINGTON DC COMNAVIFOR SUFFOLK VA COMNAVMETOCCOM STENNIS SPACE CENTER MS COMNAVREG MIDLANT NORFOLK VA COMNAVREG SE JACKSONVILLE FL COMNAVSURFLANT NORFOLK VA COMNECC LITTLE CREEK VA COMPATRECONGRU NORFOLK VA COMSC LANT NORFOLK VA COMSC NORFOLK VA COMSECONDFLT COMSUBGRU TEN COMSUBGRU TWO COMSUBLANT NORFOLK VA COMSUBRON FOUR CTF 80 CTF 84 CTF 86 CTF 87 CTF 89 CTG 80.83 FACSFAC JACKSONVILLE FL FACSFAC VACAPES OCEANA VA FLTWEACEN NORFOLK VA FLTWEACEN SAN DIEGO CA JNTEXPBASE LITTLE CREEK FORT STORY VA NAVEXPWARDEVCEN LITTLE CREEK VA NAVFAC ATLANTIC NORFOLK VA NAVFAC SOUTHEAST JACKSONVILLE FL NAVNETWARCOM SUFFOLK VA NAVSUPO NAVSTA MAYPORT FL NAVSTA NORFOLK VA NCTAMS LANT NORFOLK VA NETC PENSACOLA FL SOPA ADMIN HAMPTON ROADS AREA VA SOPA ADMIN LITTLE CREEK SUBAREA VA SOPA ADMIN NEWPORT NEWS SUBAREA VA SOPA MAYPORT FL SOPA NEW LONDON CT SOPA NORFOLK SUBAREA VA STRIKEGRUSLANT SUBASE KINGS BAY GA SUBASE NEW LONDON CT TF 883 INFO SECNAV WASHINGTON DC CNO WASHINGTON DC HQ USNORTHCOM AFNORTH TYNDALL AFB FL BUMED FALLS CHURCH VA CDR 5 ARMY NORTH AOC FT SAM HOUSTON TX CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL CDR USTRANSCOM TCJ1 SCOTT AFB IL CHINFO WASHINGTON DC CNATRA CORPUS CHRISTI TX CNATRA DET PENSACOLA FL CNR ARLINGTON VA COMCOGARD SECTOR JACKSONVILLE FL COMCOGARD SECTOR VIRGINIA PORTSMOUTH VA COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC COMLANTAREA COGARD PORTSMOUTH VA COMMARFORNORTH COMMCICOM COMNAVAIRFORES SAN DIEGO CA COMNAVAIRPAC SAN DIEGO CA COMNAVAIRSYSCOM PATUXENT RIVER MD COMNAVELSG WILLIAMSBURG VA COMNAVPERSCOM MILLINGTON TN COMNAVRESFOR NORFOLK VA COMNAVSEASYSCOM WASHINGTON DC COMNAVSUPSYSCOM MECHANICSBURG PA COMNAVSURFLANT NORFOLK VA COMPACAREA COGARD ALAMEDA CA COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI COMUSFLTFORCOM NORFOLK VA COMUSNAVSOUTH DECA COMSY ALBANY GA DEFENSE HEALTH AGENCY FALLS CHURCH VA DIRSSP WASHINGTON DC MOBDIVSALU ONE NAVCONSTGRU TWO GULFPORT MS NAVEXINTCOM DAM NECK VA NAVFAC WASHINGTON DC NAVSEA INACTSHIPOFF PORTSMOUTH VA NAVSHIPYD NORFOLK VA NAVSUP FLT LOG CTR JACKSONVILLE FL NAVSUP FLT LOG CTR NORFOLK VA NAVY JAG WASHINGTON DC NCTAMS LANT NORFOLK VA NEXCOM NORFOLK VA NMCSO LANT NORFOLK VA ONI WASHINGTON DC PEO SHIPS WASHINGTON DC PEO SSBN WASHINGTON DC PEO SSN WASHINGTON DC SUPSHIP GULF COAST MS SUPSHIP NEWPORT NEWS VA BT UNCLAS EXER/HURREX-CITADEL GALE 2026// MSGID/GENADMIN/COMUSFLTFORCOM/-/MAR// SUBJ/HURREX-CITADEL GALE 2026 (HURREX-CG 26) LETTER OF INSTRUCTION (LOI)// REF/A/MSG/COMUSFLTFORCOM/031622ZSEP2025// REF/B/DOC/COMUSFLTFORCOM/10JAN2019// REF/C/MSG/CTF 883/171711ZMAR2023// REF/D/DOC/DOD/13FEB2017// REF/E/DOC/DOD/03MAY2010// REF/F/DOC/OPNAV/23OCT2014// REF/G/DOC/OPNAV/10AUG2021// REF/H/DOC/OPNAV/13JUL2021// REF/I/DOC/OPNAV/01AUG2014// REF/J/DOC/CNIC/19MAY2022// NARR/Ref A is Exercise HURREX-CG 26 planning message. Ref B is COMUSFLTFORCOM OPORD 2000-19. Ref C is TF 883, Hurricane Season Task Organization. Ref D is DODINST 6055.17, DOD Emergency Management Program. Ref E is DODINST 3001.02, Personnel Accountability in Conjunction with Natural or Man-made Disasters. Ref F is OPNAVINST 3006.1 W/CH-2, Personnel Accountability in Conjunction with Catastrophic Events. Ref G is OPNAVINST 3100.6K, Special Incident Reporting Procedures. Ref H is OPNAVINST 3440.16F, Navy Defense Support of Civil Authorities Program. Ref I is OPNAVINST 3440.17A, Navy Installation Emergency Management Program. Ref J is CNICINST M-3440.17, Navy Installation Emergency Management Program.// POC/Murphy, Sean/CIV/Unit: USFLTFORCOM N357/Tel: 757-836-3465/ DSN: 836-3465/e-mail: sean.p.murphy7.civ@us.navy.mil// POC/Ross, Ronald/CIV/Unit: USFLTFORCOM N357/Tel: 757-836-6849/ DSN: 836-6849/e-mail: ronald.r.ross6.civ@us.navy.mil// POC/William, Clark/CIV/Unit: CNIC N36X/Tel: 619-545-7139/ e-mail: william.j.clark13.civ@us.navy.mil// POC/Hunczak, John/CIV/Unit: CNIC N36X/Tel: 904-521-8008/ e-mail: john.m.hunczak.civ@us.navy.mil// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. BACKGROUND. This is a coordinated Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces (COMUSFLTFORCOM) and Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) LOI in support of HURREX-CG 26. 1.A. This LOI provides the framework and guidance for the planning and execution of HURREX-CG 26. 1.B. USFFC and CNIC will jointly plan and execute HURREX-CG 26. It is conducted annually to provide afloat and shore-based commands the opportunity to exercise hurricane preparedness and installation restoration plans prior to the onset of hurricane season. It is the means by which USFFC/CNIC afloat, shore commands and units in the Eastern CONUS and Gulf of America Area of Responsibility (AOR) exercise and assess: SORTIE conditions, aircraft evacuation, personnel accountability, personnel evacuation, mission essential personnel, disaster preparedness, emergency management programs, and response and recovery procedures. 1.C. Primary objectives. 1.C.1. Exercise higher headquarters and subordinate command staff planning and coordination functions to facilitate transition through Tropical Cyclone Conditions of Readiness (TCCOR), SORTIE conditions, repositioning, safe haven operations, and reconstitution. 1.C.2. Demonstrate the ability to prepare Navy installations and facilities for destructive weather. 1.C.3. Demonstrate the ability to exercise installation and tenant commands energy resilience. 1.C.4. Exercise command and control processes for all of the above. 1.D. Secondary objectives. 1.D.1. Exercise the processes to plan and prepare for Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) disaster relief and recovery actions with the combined USFFC/MARFORCOM team to include a live or simulated Load Exercise (LOADEX). 1.D.2. Exercise heavy weather moor evolutions for each naval warship class and heavy weather tie down for each aircraft type/model/series at each of the homeport locations and air stations in NRMA, NRSE, and NDW. 1.D.3. Exercise and assess installations' ability to communicate with, train, and fully prepare our families for the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season. This activity must occur prior to storm arrival and during recovery, and include, but not be limited to, public affairs management and engagement with OMBUDSMAN/Family Readiness Group (FRG) support networks. 1.D.4. Exercise installation coordination with tenant commands, local civilian disaster response partners, PPV housing, Commissary, NEX, Branch Medical Clinics, and Hospitals. 1.D.5. Assess region/installation ability to respond to an authorized evacuation. 1.E. All naval commands participating shall execute heavy weather preparation procedures as much as practicable without incurring any schedule or maintenance delays or incurring significant cost. 1.F. Request CNATRA and CNAF participate by providing information to CNAL to support simulated aircraft hurricane evacuations (HURREVAC). 1.G. Exercise schedule. 1.G.1. The exercise will be conducted 13 APR 26 - 24 APR 26 with a weekend timeout (18-19 APR 26). Exercise TCCOR and SORTIE conditions will be set IAW local instructions. At STARTEX, CNIC regions Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Naval District Washington will set TCCOR V and adjust as required. Regions have the flexibility to adjust TCCOR settings based on warm start, tropical cyclone formation alert (TCFA), and the first tropical cyclone (TC) advisory. The storm track may dictate that some installations will already be in an elevated TCCOR at STARTEX. 1.H. Exercise timeouts. 1.H.1. Exercise play will pause for the weekend at 2000Z (1600 EDT) 17 APR 26 for the weekend. HURREX-CG 26 play will resume at 1200Z (0800 EDT) 20 APR 26. Storm warnings will continue to be issued at six-hour intervals. No response is expected during weekend timeout. Exercise events will be conducted during normal working hours 1200-2000Z (0800-1600 EDT). Exercise participants should consider projected storm movement during the exercise time-out when setting TCCOR, SORTIE conditions, etc.// 2. CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS. 2.A. Two artificially constructed TCs will develop and intensify to hurricane strength, threatening the US East coast and Gulf of America regions. Prior to storm passage or landfall, CTF 883, affected subordinate Commanders, Region Commanders and Senior Officer Present Afloat (SOPA) will coordinate the setting of TCCORs, simulated vessel SORTIE and simulated aircraft evacuation. Following storm passage or landfall, CNIC will execute disaster recovery and restoration procedures in coordination with USFFC. 2.B. Personnel accountability will be conducted IAW Ref E and Ref F for active duty, reserve, and civilian government personnel. Musters will be executed after storm passage or landfall. 2.C. Exercise storms will use the naming conventions ALPHA (80L) and BRAVO (81L). Should a real-world TC develop during execution that affects the exercise, HURREX-CG 26 play shall be suspended by the Officer Conducting Exercise (OCE). 2.D. Public Affairs (PA). PA posture is active, and offices will report exercise and exercise-related activities to higher authority. Region and Installation Commanders should follow the exercise communications plan issued SEPCOR by USFFC and CNIC PA offices. 3. The goal of these evolutions is to exercise the ability to plan and execute heavy weather mooring of each class of Navy warship and each type/model/series of naval aircraft. These evolutions should be locally coordinated to enable training personnel from similar ships and squadrons in the same homeport who are not conducting the actual heavy weather moor/tie down. 3.A. TYCOMs and ISICs, supported by CNRMA, CNRSE, CNDW and respective Port Ops, will supervise, inspect and report completion to CTF 883 of proper and effective heavy weather moors. Include observations/ recommendations and challenges to heavy weather moor execution in after action reports (AAR). Upon HURREX-CG 26 completion, TYCOMs shall provide 2026 hurricane season heavy weather moor guidance, per ship/sub class, to subordinate units. 3.B. TYCOMs and ISICs, supported by CNRMA, CNRSE, CNDW, respective wings, squadrons, and air ops, will supervise, inspect, and report completion to CNAL and CTF 883 of proper and effective heavy weather tie downs. Include observations/recommendations and challenges to heavy weather tie down execution in AARs. Upon HURREX-CG 26 completion, TYCOMs shall provide 2026 hurricane season heavy weather tie down guidance, per type/model/series, to subordinate units. 4. COMMAND, CONTROL AND REPORTING. 4.A. OFFICER CONDUCTING EXERCISE (OCE). 4.A.1. OCE for HURREX is USFFC. 4.A.2. OCE for CITADEL GALE is CNIC. 4.B. Succession of SOPA, Fleet and Shore installation preparation for destructive weather, and SORTIE procedures and reporting will be exercised IAW Ref B. 4.C. Special Incident Reporting. 4.C.1. Voice reporting of exercise events, as required by Ref G, shall be prefaced and concluded with quote Exercise, Exercise, Exercise unquote. 4.C.2. Participants shall exercise primary, secondary, and tertiary methods of communication IAW unit communication plans. 4.D. Record messages. 4.D.1. All exercise message reports and special incident reports shall be prefaced and concluded with quote Exercise, Exercise, Exercise unquote and shall include HURREX-CG 26 in the subject line. To avoid possible confusion or undue alert of higher authorities, a message-in-message format will be used whereby the standard special incident report formatted message will be placed within the body of the message-in-message shell. The template for this format will be distributed to all exercise trusted agents for proper distribution to participating training audiences. The exercise plan and assessment guide will also be distributed to all exercise trusted agents for proper distribution. C4IS Training website address is: https://c4isuite-training.atfp.cnic.navy.mil 4.D.2. All HURREX-CG 26 message reports shall be classified per normal classification procedures. Do not use quote Exercise Secret unquote or similar markings.// 5. PARTICIPANTS. 5.A. (U) Atlantic and Gulf of America Afloat units and commands (in port and underway) will participate in exercise storm tracking and warning activities. This includes units in port CONUS that are away from their homeports. Forward deployed units need not participate in tracking and warning.// 6. ACTIONS REQUIRED PRIOR TO HURREX-CG 26. 6.A. Review Refs A through I, other pertinent documents, pubs and plans, which include admin manuals/instructions, SOPA disaster preparedness plans, and OPORDs to ensure command compliance with directives. 6.B. Verify the ability to receive hurricane warning messages via the Collective Address Designator (CAD) HURRIWARNLANT. If necessary, request modifications to CAD by message or email to the Fleet Weather Center Norfolk, VA. Command Duty Officer: 757-444-7583, Hurricane Duty Officer: Comm: 757-444-8786, DSN: 564 -8786, PLA: FLTWEACEN NORFOLK VA. CDO E-MAIL (NIPR): fwc-nrfk-cdo@us.navy.mil CDO E-MAIL (SIPR): fwc-norfolk.cdo@navy.smil.mil.// 7. HURRICANE TRACK CONSIDERATIONS/ARTIFICIALITIES. 7.A. Two hurricanes will develop during this exercise. All exercise participants shall take both exercise storm tracks into account and understand both storms are happening simultaneously and have the possibility of dual/combined heavy weather effects in their region. The exercise tracks will allow for shore commands, aircraft, and afloat units across three Navy regions to participate in a single exercise simultaneously. In preparation for exercise execution Tropical Cyclone Formation Alerts (TCFAs) will be issued for exercise storm tracks Charlie and Delta. 7.B. For exercise purposes, Numbered Fleets, installations and ports in CNRSE, CNRMA and CNDW will track warning messages IOT support HURREVAC and SORTIE planning. 7.C. Fleet Weather Center Norfolk (FWC-N) will transmit exercise tropical cyclone and hurricane warning messages at six-hour intervals using CAD HURRIWARNLANT and ensure HURREX-CG 26 tropical cyclone warnings are accessible VIA DMS and https://weather.navy.mil/NepocSupport/. Additionally, FWC-N will issue a one-time exercise Optimal Track Ship Routing (OTSR) divert recommendation to ships underway and threatened by exercise tropical cyclones. 7.D. Tropical cyclone and hurricane updates will be posted to the following portals. NIPR Public facing: http://www.metoc.navy.mil/fwcn/fwcn.html NIPR: https://weather.navy.mil/NepocSupport/ SIPR: https://weather.navy.smil.mil/NepocSupport/ Product Subscription Service: https://weather.navy.mil/ProdSub/ 8. EXERCISE EXECUTION. 8.A. Ships at sea shall review/exercise/validate hazardous weather bills and monitor exercise warning messages. Units receiving an exercise OTSR divert recommendation will acknowledge by message and indicate intended movement for exercise purposes but will only simulate a divert. Other hurricane-related drills are encouraged and should be conducted at CO's discretion. 8.B. Numbered Fleets, Region Commanders, SOPAs, and SOPA ADMINS review disaster preparedness plans and conduct individual/team training. Region Commanders should conduct pre-exercise and pre-tropical cyclone season discussions with disaster preparedness officers of subordinate commands to address exercise scenarios, emergency plans, and recovery efforts. Coordinate SORTIE with CTF 883 or designated Task Group Commanders (IAW Ref B) as required. 8.C. Region and Installation Commanders execute or simulate recovery and restoration actions and report IAW Refs D, H, and I. 8.D. Navy aircraft and ships in port carry out actions and reports IAW Ref B, Annex H and area SOPA guidance. Ships in port will not SORTIE and aircraft will not evacuate for HURREX-CG 26. Naval units participating in the exercise shall execute heavy weather preparation procedures, as much as practicable, without delaying schedule or maintenance that incurring significant additional cost. 8.E. A daily Maritime Update Brief (MUB) will be conducted via secure VTC hosted by USFFC with the following required participants: CTF 883, C2F, C4F, CNIC, CNRSE, CNDW, CNRMA, CSL, CNSL, CNAL, MSC, MFC, and SORTIE Commanders when assigned. Dial in information and time will be promulgated SEPCOR. The daily MUB will be executed with the MOC briefing tool found on the USFFC MOC portal at: https://cffo.fleetforces.navy.smil.mil/hq/moc/sab/sitepages/home.aspx/. Action officers and briefers should verify access to the MOC portal and MOC briefing tool, as well as gain familiarity with its use. The MOC briefing tool user guide is located on the MOC briefing tool portal page as a linked document. Questions regarding access or use of the MOC briefing tool should be directed to kmo1.ffc.fct@navy.smil.mil. 8.F. Participating Commands shall review Refs D and E, and NFAAS data for accuracy. Additional PA guidance and resources are available at https://navyfamily.navy.mil. Additionally, all participants shall monitor NAVADMINS for orders to account for both exercise and real-world events and shall respond appropriately to any exercise or actual evacuation orders. 8.G. C4IS training suite is the primary collaboration tool for USFFC, CNIC, participating regions, and shore-based commands. All commands ensure the NIPR C4IS training site is updated to reflect current conditions prior to the start of the exercise. Afloat units monitor C4IS as able. The main collaboration sites for C4IS will be under enterprise links; specifically, the HURREX-CG 26 and hurricane collaboration site links. This link will be used as the main document collaboration area to share briefings, templates, guidance, deliverables, and orders. The hurricane collaboration site link (hurricane tracking page for storms) will provide the Commander real-time access to TCCOR status, installation status, and personnel issues. The web address is: https://c4isuite-training.atfp.cnic.navy.mil. 8.G.1. C4IS National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Map will be the primary Common Operational Picture (COP) tool used to post geographical representations of hurricane tracks, TCCOR status, impacts, and significant alerts/events from the regions. 8.G.2. Installation operational status reporting. The installation status tool is intended to provide the Commander situational awareness on each installation's mission capability and TCCOR status. Individual installations should report the status of their Emergency Operational Center (EOC) in their respective columns. Regions should report the status of their Regional Operational Center (ROC) in their respective columns. 8.G.3. Requests for Support (RFS). All RFS will be submitted via the C4I RFS module under the HURREX event. Regions shall ensure all C4IS RFS are addressed to CNIC and USFFC. 8.G.4. C4IS chat. Chat is a tool used for time sensitive tactical exchanges and situational awareness and collaboration among watch standers. 8.G.5. TCCOR changes and reporting. C4IS training site will be an authoritative means for shore activities to direct TCCOR changes and report TCCOR attainment. Record message traffic directing TCCOR changes and reporting TCCOR attainment are still required for the exercise. Afloat staff and units not capable of accessing C4IS will report attainment via record message traffic. 8.G.6. SORTIE attainment will be reported per Ref B. 8.H. All CTGs under CTF 883, and TYCOMS under USFFC, will exercise planning and operational coordination with USFFC/CTF 883 and provide routine status updates and operational reports on intentions and actions to protect their subordinate Navy units (e.g., coordination via planning and execution battle rhythm events, coordination via established chat rooms). USFFC requests same supporting coordination with CNIC and participating Navy regions. 8.I. Notional battle rhythm for this exercise will be posted to the USFFC portals on both SIPR and NIPR. 8.J. Timeline: exercise scene setter. In order to support the exercise timeline, FWC-N will issue TCFA warning message on 10 APR 26, with additional TC warning messages as scripted. While no action is required until STARTEX, commands are encouraged to utilize this time to promulgate advanced planning for the onset of tropical force winds. 9. KEY EVENTS AND AFTER ACTION REPORTS 9.A. HURREX-CG 26 exercise key events schedule. 02 APR 26: ECG communications check 10 APR 26: Exercise warm start 13 APR 26 - 24 APR 26: Exercise execution 24 APR 26: Exercise blue player hot wash 29 MAY 26: Exercise participant AAR submission and region objective check sheets 18 JUN 26: ECG After action meeting 26 JUN 26: Final AAR 9.B. USFFC lessons learned POC is Ms. Evelyn Ajilore, Comm: 757-836-9069, DSN:836-9069, Email: evelyn.a.ajilore.ctr@us.navy.mil 9.C. CNIC lessons learned POC is Mr. John Hunczak, Comm: 904-521-8008, Email: john.m.hunczak.civ@us.navy.mil 9.D. All events during HURREX-CG 26 have been developed and will be executed within current fiscal constraints without incurring additional costs beyond already planned labor expenses.// BT #0001 NNNN UNCLASSIFIED/ SPARKS.ASHLEY.JEAN.1391429495 CLASSIFICATION: UNCLASSIFIED/