CNO Praises Indonesian, U.S. Sailors as CARAT Phase Closes
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS060718-05
Release Date: 7/18/2006 4:00:00 PM
By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Melinda Larson, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 1 Public Affairs
SURABAYA, Indonesia (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen, in the midst of a visit to Southeast Asia, told U.S. and Indonesian navy sailors the maritime security training they practiced together the past week is vital to the world's flow of trade when he spoke prior to the closing ceremony of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) here July 18.
"You continue to work very hard to improve on the aspects of what we do for a living in the areas of interoperability, and maritime security tactics and techniques," Mullen told a combined U.S.-Indonesian navy audience of about 150, before he left to visit one of the CARAT task group ships, USS Tortuga (LSD 46). "The work you've accomplished is important to the future of both our navies and the maritime security in this region, a very strategic region of the world.
The Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than half of the world's economy. One of CARAT's primary goals is to build skills directly applicable to the combat of transnational crimes at sea, including seaborne terrorism threats.
The navies accomplished CARAT's goals during the week-long exercise practicing maritime interdiction operations including visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) boardings, both pierside and at sea. U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard VBSS teams combined forces with their Indonesian counterparts to learn each other's law enforcement tactics and techniques. While CARAT is a military exercise, CARAT's commander stressed that not all problems require a military solution.
"We realize peace comes from maintaining a strong defense; that the rule of law is better than war; and working together in mutual respect builds lasting friendships," Capt. Al Collins, commander of Destroyer Squadron 1 and the U.S. CARAT task group said during his closing ceremony remarks. "We continue to strengthen our interoperability and improve our skills in areas that thwart our enemies and provide protection of the seas."
The five-day at-sea phase of CARAT Indonesia was more than double the previous year's. The combined CARAT task group, comprised of seven ships, two helicopters and two maritime patrol aircraft, was commanded at sea from Tortuga by Collins and his staff along with their Indonesian counterparts.
The commander of the Indonesian Eastern Fleet Command said he looks forward to the future relationship of the two navies.
"I hope that our meeting today is not the last. Through continued cooperation between our two navies, we can move forward together to face the challenges of the coming era," Rear Adm. Waldi Murad said during his closing remarks.
In addition to building cooperation between navies, U.S. Marines from the 4th Marine Regiment trained with their Indonesian counterparts during CARAT. Rifle marksmanship, military martial arts, identifying improvised explosive devices, and combat casualty critical care were part of their combined training ashore.
Also ashore, a series of medical, dental and veterinary civic action projects conducted by U.S. and Indonesian professionals resulted in routine medical and dental treatment for more than 1,100 local residents, as well as care for their animals including goats, sheep, and cows. During community service projects, three orphanages were visited by Sailors who delivered Project Handclasp health and welfare supplies, and played games with the children.
"We demonstrate our cooperation by both our words and our deeds. Together through our words we are sharing our understanding of cultural diversity and the importance it plays in all societies," Collins said. "And by working together through a series of civic action and community service projects in Surabaya, we are showing our compassion and demonstrating our commitment towards all mankind."
Along with Tortuga, USS Crommelin (FFG 37), USS Salvor (ARS 52) and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Sherman (WHEC 720) make up the U.S. CARAT task group. Tortuga operates from Sasebo, Japan, as part of the U.S. 7th Fleet's Forward Deployed Naval Forces. Collins' staff is based in San Diego. Crommelin and Salvor are homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Sherman is homeported in Alameda, Calif.
The four Indonesian CARAT task group ships involved during the at-sea phase included the corvettes KRI Fatahillah (FTH-361) and KRI Nala (NAL-363), the frigate KRI Karel Satsuitbun (KST-356), and the patrol craft KRI Pandrong (PDG-801).
The Indonesia phase, which began July 11, was the third of the six-phase CARAT series. Previous exercises this year include those with Singapore and Thailand. Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines will round out the 2006 series.
For more on CARAT, visit www.clwp.navy.mil/carat2006.
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