Ambassador: CARAT Thailand Skills Pay Dividends
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050622-12
Release Date: 6/22/2005 12:04:00 PM
By Lt. Chuck Bell, Logistics Group Western Pacific Public Affairs and Chief Journalist Melinda Larson, Destroyer Squadron 1 Public Affairs
SATTAHIP, Thailand (NNS) -- U.S. Ambassador to Thailand Ralph L. "Skip" Boyce helped open the Thailand phase of the 2005 Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series June 20 by praising the Royal Thai Navy's tsunami relief efforts, and drawing a parallel with skills enhanced during past iterations of CARAT.
"CARAT exercises and training events, such as deck landing qualifications by Royal Thai Navy helicopter pilots aboard U.S. warships, and challenging command-and-control scenarios, better equipped the Royal Thai Navy to aid the victims of this disaster," Boyce told about 300 U.S. Navy Sailors from USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Paul Hamilton (DDG 60), USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) and USS Safeguard (ARS 50), and their Royal Thai Navy (RTN) counterparts standing shoulder-to-shoulder during the phase's opening ceremony. Officiating the ceremony for the Royal Thai Navy was its Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Adm. Pirasak Watcharamul.
During Operation Unified Assistance, the multinational relief effort in response to the devastating December 2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia, the RTN deployed its helicopter carrier HTMS Chakrinaruebet to provide direct, immediate humanitarian support, Boyce said.
"It is clear that CARAT not only improves the warfighting capabilities of our nations, but also our ability to assist each other in times of crisis," Boyce said.
During the 2005 installment of CARAT Thailand, the U.S. Navy and RTN will continue to refine their ability to work together in a variety of mission areas. The multi-faceted exercise will challenge the combined forces at sea, on land and in the air.
The U.S. Coast Guard's Maritime Safety & Security Team (MSST) San Francisco will share their skills through various combined visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) exercise scenarios pierside and afloat. Exercise events such as these that contribute to building skills applicable to combating seaborne terrorism and transnational crimes at sea are a focus of this 11th edition of CARAT.
During the at-sea phase, another highlight of CARAT Thailand will involve Royal Thai Marines conducting amphibious operations from Fort McHenry via landing craft, air cushion (LCAC). RTN pilots will earn day and night deck landing qualifications when they land their Bell 212 and S76 helicopters aboard Rodney M. Davis.
Diving and salvage operations will be conducted with the crew of Safeguard, and a variety of seminars in areas ranging from damage control to legal issues are also scheduled.
In the midst of the exercise's many operational events, participants are also finding time to interact on a more personal level. The four-ship U.S. task group arrived here June 17, and since that time, Sailors from both navies have taken part in social and sporting events together.
"Exercises such as CARAT contribute not only to the operational readiness of all our forces, but also strengthen our long-standing friendship," Boyce emphasized during his opening ceremony remarks.
These friendships extend to the local community, with U.S. Navy and RTN sailors working side-by-side during community service projects, several of which are scheduled during CARAT Thailand.
"This example is one of many that show the public a different aspect of our naval forces and the dedication of our militaries to community service, a vital part of their mission," Boyce said. In addition to scheduled interaction with local children, the Sailors will install a water filtration system at one school.
Approximately 1,200 U.S. personnel and 1,600 from the RTN and Royal Thai Marines are taking part in CARAT Thailand.
In addition to the four-ship U.S. task group, other elements taking part include a P-3C Orion from Patrol Squadron (VP) 40, based at Whidbey Island, Wash., and an SH-60 Seahawk aircraft from Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron (Light) (HSL) 45, based at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif. Mobile Mine Assembly Group (MOMAU) 10 from Okinawa, Japan, and a Drone Detachment from Fleet Activities, Okinawa, are also participating.
Rear Adm. Kevin M. Quinn, commander of Logistics Group Western Pacific, who operates from Singapore, is responsible for overall CARAT coordination for U.S. participants in his executive agent roles as Commander, Task Force 712.
Capt. Buzz Little, commander of San Diego-based Destroyer Squadron 1, leads the task group and is embarked with his staff aboard Fort McHenry. Paul Hamilton is homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Rodney M. Davis in Everett, Wash. Fort McHenry and Safeguard are forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan.
The RTN participants, led by Commander, Frigate Squadron 1 Rear Adm. Supot Soodprasert consists of HTMS Phuttayotfachulalok, HTMS Taksin, HTMS Rattanakosin, HTMS Sichang, and HTMS Bangrachan. Other units include the RTN's Underwater Warfare Squadron and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team, Special Warfare Squadron, and four motor-launch sweeper boats.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
