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CARAT Phase One in the Philippines Ends on a High Note

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080611-01
Release Date: 6/11/2008 8:05:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Dan Meaney, Commander, Task Force 73 Public Affairs

NARRA PALAWAN, Republic of the Philippines (NNS) -- The first phase of the 14th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series came to a close with the opening of a newly constructed school building in the fishing village of Narra a week before the new school year begins.

The next phase of the CARAT exercise series takes place in Thailand.

"This first phase of CARAT was planned to extend our previous training with the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard," said Commodore Capt. Mike Selby, Commander, Destroyer Squadron 1 and Task Group 73.5 leader. "We were pushing ourselves and, together with our partners, the Philippine Navy and Coast Guard, we succeeded."

The exercises during the CARAT Philippines phase included visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) training, maritime safety, damage control training, surface gunnery, maneuvering and tactical free play.

The two navies and coast guards cross-decked officers and enlisted to enhance training and increase interoperability.

"It lets our Sailors see how the Filipinos tackle problems, it gives some of the Philippine Sailors exposure to the way we do things, and it increases the strength of the relationships between our countries' forces," Selby said.

Each phase of the exercise tested the mettle of the seafaring units, causing them not only to have to work together as individual units, but as part of a squadron--something many of the units do not regularly do. This need to work as a group required close communication between the different elements through a common communications network, which was a major objective of the exercises.

In addition to underway training, the Navy and Coast Guard personnel from both countries engaged in many community-oriented activities, including repairing and delivering equipment to local schools, providing medical and dental services in outlying areas, and building the school in Narra.

Lt. Kenneth Sowell, the detachment officer in charge of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 133, said the three new classrooms will provide valuable space at the school and a better learning environment.

The U.S. CARAT task force consists of the dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46), the guided-missile frigates USS Jarrett (FFG 33) and USS Ford (FFG 54), and USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC 722).

CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the United States and six Southeast Asian nations designed to build relationships and enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces.

For more news from Commander Task Force 73, visit www.navy.mil/local/clwp/.