U.S., Malaysia Navies Build Confidence
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050715-03
Release Date: 7/15/2005 8:55:00 AM
By Chief Journalist Melinda Larson, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 1 Public Affairs
KEMAMAN, Malaysia (NNS) -- The U.S. and Royal Malaysian navies demonstrated their abilities to work as a unified force during the at-sea phase of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2005 July 12-15.
“The successful operations we conduct annually during CARAT are proof that in the event we are called to operate together in a real-world scenario we would be ready and able to answer a call of national or international tasking,” said Lt. Jeff Sizemore, this year’s CARAT coordinator for Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1.
Capt. Buzz Little, commander of DESRON 1, currently embarked aboard USS Boxer (LHD 4), leads the CARAT task group for the second consecutive year. CARAT, in its 11th year, is an annual exercise series with six Southeast Asian nations designed to enhance maritime security capabilities in the region.
“All events are geared towards improving our capabilities - both the Royal Malaysian Navy and U.S. Navy - on improving our maritime security capabilities,” Sizemore said.
Events such as an at-sea combined visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) exercise aboard USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG 60) helped both navies learn each other’s practices and procedures. VBSS exercises have become an important piece of the CARAT series because of increased suspicious activities in the South China Sea and the vulnerable Straits of Malacca.
“We can really work together to fight against terrorism and what we call non-conventional threats, such as piracy and smuggling,” said Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Lt. Cmdr. Azhar Adam, a member of his Navy’s CARAT staff embarked aboard Boxer during the at-sea phase. “Training together helps us understand each other and builds confidence in each other.”
Along with Boxer and Rodney M. Davis, the RMN frigate Lekiu and the corvette Laksamana Muhammad Amin set sail together for three days off the coast of central Malaysia to conduct a variety of standard naval drills, such as at-sea gunnery, maneuvering and communications. A third U.S. ship, USS Safeguard (ARS 50), conducted combined diving operations nearby with a Malaysian diving support vessel, Setia Cekal.
The ships communicated with each other via the Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS), which proved to be a valuable link.
“The ships were able to develop and share a common operational picture via CENTRIXS. The communications throughout the exercise, both voice and data, have been seamless,” Sizemore said.
In addition to being installed on each of the ships, CENTRIXS was also used at the CARAT headquarters ashore.
“CENTRIXS offers us an efficient and very valuable way to share information with each other at sea and ashore,” noted Sizemore.
During the at-sea phase, 160 paratroopers from the Royal Malay Regiment were hosted aboard Boxer prior to an amphibious assault from Boxer’s embarked landing craft, air-cushion (LCAC) from Assault Craft Unit 5, Det. CARAT.
“For some of our Sailors, it was a once in a lifetime experience to be on a ship of this size and to ride on an LCAC. We were very fortunate to feel your hospitality and experience life on board,” Adam said, adding that he appreciated Boxer’s efforts to provide fish and rice during most meals.
Whether it was meeting dietary requirements or fighting mock threats, the goal of building confidence on a personal level was met, ensuring interoperability between the forces and future dividends.
“This exercise is conducted on a very personal level, lieutenant-to-lieutenant, lieutenant commander-to-lieutenant commander,” noted Sizemore. “The U.S. and the world have a vested interest in this area’s trade routes. This exercise is foreign policy conducted on a very direct level, because those lieutenants and lieutenant commanders will be the people leading our navies for the next decade, and those relationships will pay dividends for years.”
Approximately 1,600 U.S. personnel are taking part in CARAT Malaysia. Following Malaysia, the CARAT task group will proceed to conduct bilateral exercises with the countries of Indonesia, Brunei and the Republic of the Philippines. CARAT Singapore and Thailand were conducted in June.
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 role as Commander, Task Force 712.
Little’s staff is based in San Diego, as is Boxer. Rodney M. Davis is homeported in Everett, Wash. Safeguard is forward-deployed to Sasebo, Japan.
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