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Phase Three of CARAT Gets Underway in Malaysia

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070706-14
Release Date: 7/6/2007 4:30:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jessica M. Bailey, Commander Task Force 73 Public Affairs

KEMAMAN, Malaysia (NNS) -- The 13th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2007 exercise series began its third phase July 3 with an opening ceremony at the Awana Kijal Hotel in Kemaman.

In his opening remarks, Rear Adm. William R. Burke, commander of Task Group 73 and CARAT’s executive agent, said this year’s CARAT exercise presents an opportunity for the United States and Malaysia to continue to build a long-standing partnership.

“Malaysia and the United States share a long history and we share many of the same goals,” Burke said. “Our diligence and commitment to the enhancement of maritime security capabilities are a testament to that mutual vision.”

Shortly before the opening ceremony began, U.S. Navy Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen from participating ships in the CARAT task group were already boarding buses in preparation for a community relations project at the S.K. Teluk Kalong School. Medical and dental teams will be on hand to conduct examinations and administer much needed treatment to local residents, while an engineering team of professionals will work with their Malaysian counterparts on construction projects such as the Kebangsaan Meraga Beris School in Kemaman.

This humanitarian effort in the local community is just one of the myriad of projects that have become the footprint of every CARAT phase.

“Whether we end up working together in humanitarian assistance or disaster relief operations, the CARAT experience can only enhance our ability to complete our missions more effectively,” said Burke. “Along with the community relations work, they give us an opportunity to serve the community that hosts us during the exercise while building valuable relationships and friendships with our exercise partner.”

With maritime security as its primary goal, Burke said the CARAT exercise is built on a foundation of increased bilateral and interagency cooperation designed to prepare our forces to face the maritime threats of today.

Focusing on areas such as maritime interdiction and surveillance, visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) operations, amphibious operations, force protection and diving and salvage operations allows the armed forces of both nations to enhance practical skills in several tactical areas.

“Both of our armed forces stand to learn from each other by conducting this combined training,” Burke said. “The bottom line is that this is a mutually beneficial exercise for professional development in skill areas that are relevant in today’s security environment.”

The shared need to combat transnational threats such as armed robbery, piracy, drug smuggling, human trafficking and terrorism at sea requires an increased level of seamless joint operations and increased security awareness between both nations.

“Many of these threats cross international borders, requiring like-minded maritime forces to cooperate, and share real-time information to keep the region’s waterways safe,” Burke said. “The maritime security skills exercised throughout CARAT directly benefits current initiatives to counter these threats.”

Use of the Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS) has made the critical communication link possible and available in both text and Web-based formats.

“CENTRIXS is an invaluable tool in helping us achieve our goal,” Burke said. “With CENTRIXS installed in the exercise headquarters, on board Royal Malaysia Navy ships, and throughout the U.S. CARAT task group, we have an opportunity to reach new heights in combined command and control.”

Burke said from nation to nation, CARAT has proven to be a valuable exercise that challenges the maritime forces of the two nations to hone warfighting and seamanship skills, neither or which should be taken for granted or underestimated.

“Our shared perspectives and goals make CARAT a model maritime exercise for both countries,” he said. “By operating together in this exercise environment, we will develop mutual awareness and understanding.”

CARAT is a sequential series of bilateral military exercises the U.S. Navy performs annually with the armed forces of six Southeast Asia nations. Following the Malaysia phase, the exercise will continue in Singapore, Brunei and Indonesia.

The U.S. CARAT task group is under the leadership of Commander, Destroyer Squadron 1, Capt. Al Collins, and consists of the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), guided-missile frigates USS Jarrett (FFG 33) and USS Ford (FFG 54). Harpers Ferry is the flagship for the exercise.

Collins is embarked aboard Harpers Ferry, which operates out of Sasebo, Japan as part of the 7th Fleet’s Forward Deployed Naval Forces. His staff is based in San Diego. Jarrett is homeported in San Diego and Ford is homeported in Everett, Wash.