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Southeast Asia anti-terrorism exercise concludes

7th Fleet Release

Release Date: 6/01/2004

By Chief Journalist Melinda Larson, Destroyer Squadron One public affairs

USS FORT MCHENRY, At Sea -- Navies from several Southeast Asia nations embarked with the U.S. Navy during an at-sea anti-terrorism exercise in the Philippine and South China seas May 24-29.

Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT), a scenario-driven exercise that involved the tracking and boarding of simulated rogue merchant ships, gave the participants an opportunity to witness and share ship tracking and boarding techniques.

"SEACAT is a tremendous opportunity for the United States to work with regional navies to increase all nations' capabilities to ensure safe seas and freedom of commerce," said Capt. Buzz Little, commander of Destroyer Squadron One, who led the U.S. task group that participated in the exercise.

Little and his staff, based in San Diego, were embarked aboard the dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), part of the U.S. Seventh Fleet's forward deployed naval forces (FDNF) operating from Sasebo, Japan.

Also embarked aboard Fort McHenry were liaison officers from the navies of the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia.

Other U.S. ships taking part in the exercise included the U.S. Coast Guard high endurance cutter Mellon (WHEC 717), homeported in Seattle, guided missile destroyers USS Russell (DDG 59), homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and USS McCampbell (DDG 85), homeported in San Diego.

In addition, the Military Sealift Command (MSC) combat stores ship USNS Concord (T-AFS 5) participated, as well as the container and roll-on/roll-off ship SS Maj. Stephen W. Pless (T-AK 3007), which played the role of the rouge merchant ship.

Although each navy's participation was bilateral with the U.S. Navy, members of each participating nation had an opportunity to interact on personal levels.

"This is a very good exercise of navies coming together," said Republic of Singapore Navy Capt. Kelvin Cheung. "Apart from the exercise, we have had interaction and are building personal relationships with our counterparts from other nations in our region."

"It's a good idea to share our resources and work together," said Republic of Singapore Navy Capt. Jason Lee, who has participated in every SEACAT since the exercise began in 2002. "SEACAT takes our training to the next level."