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CARAT Symposium Shares American Views with Malaysian Officers

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060727-06
7/27/2006

By Mass Communication Specialists 1st Class Thomas Brennan and Ralph Radford, Commander, Task Force 73 Public Affairs

KEMAMAN, Malaysia (NNS) -- A group of 40 senior Malaysian military officers are getting a U.S. perspective on issues such as maritime interception operations, operational law and rules of engagement, during a symposium which began here July 25.

This five-day symposium for O-5 and O-6 equivalent officers from various disciplines representing each of the nation’s three military branches, as well as the country’s coast guard-like organization, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, is part of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT).

"The diversified audience really helped the discussion process," said Lt. Cmdr. Michael Luken, staff judge advocate for Commander, Task Force 73 and a presenter during the symposium.

In addition to operational law-related issues, the symposium includes briefings on subjects such as force protection, interagency operations, operational logistics and public affairs. Each session includes a topic brief and time for questions and feedback.

“Just because you can shoot, should you shoot? That is the question,” Luken said to the audience during a lively July 27 rules of engagement presentation that included real-world examples of combat situations and a great deal of discussion among the crowd.

Members of the audience posed various scenarios to Luken, who explained that when it comes to rules of engagement, the lines are not always clear, and pointing to his rank device said, “...you as the commander have to make the call.”

Luken further expressed that each of the symposium’s U.S. presenters has been met with insightful questions and dialogue from the Malaysian officers.

Royal Malaysian Air Force Lt. Col. Mohd Razif, a legal officer and 26-year veteran, said he found the application of law, logistics and public affairs during conflict very interesting.

“We are getting exposure and experience from a military that has been involved in a war,” said Razif, while also applauding the “very good interaction” taking place throughout the week.

“My hope is that at the end of the week, what we’ll all realize is that we actually have quite a few similarities,” said Luken.

This is the third year the military operations symposium has taken place during the Malaysia phase of CARAT, having expanded from three to five days since its inception in 2004.

CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the United States and six Southeast Asia nations designed to build relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces. Malaysia is the fourth phase this year, following exercises with the armed forces of Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. The Brunei and Philippines phases will round out the 2006 series.

For more on CARAT, visit www.clwp.navy.mil/carat2006.

For related news, visit the Commander Task Force 73 Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/clwp/.