This ex has been abnormal. I don't think there's been a single inland strike... That I've heard anyway. I've found that certain groups, or certain workups... they sort of dumb down. Sometimes some groups seem to kind of be the 'A team', and they get the real serious training... Then others get more of an abbreviated workup. Same goes for the ARG/ESG groups. I'm not sure if that's due to a shortage in theater and they just want to get them out, or lack of money, or what. Some groups have shortened their workups significantly, to the point where most of the individual ex's are combined into one single abbreviated ex. I've been told that they were thinking of doing that for all the groups, which would mean a lot less training between cruises.
I'm really glad the crew made it out safe. 
