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U.S. Marines, Malaysian Rangers Exercise Care in Beach Landing

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS080716-10
Release Date: 7/16/2008 4:46:00 PM

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

BUKIT TIOMAN DARA, Malaysia (NNS) -- U.S. Marines and Malaysian Army Rangers performed an amphibious beach landing during a combined training exercise near Bukit Tioman Dara July 15.

Forty Marines of the 3rd Marine Combat Assault Company and 140 Rangers of the 9th Regiment of the Royal Malaysian Army conducted the exercise as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2008. The exercise was held to improve humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) skills.

"The HADR mission training is vitally important to the timely rescue and care of displaced personnel," said Platoon leader 1st Lt. Kyle Johnson. "Not only was the training top-notch, but the friendships formed with our Malaysian brothers-in-arms will be with us for a long time to come."

After wading from a landing craft unit to the beach, the group broke into four commands and moved inland. A series of mock villages simulated the various effects of natural disasters ranging from cyclones to tsunamis. The Marines and Rangers responded quickly. They triaged the injured, provided rudimentary first aid and evacuated the most seriously wounded.

Johnson explained HADR training is especially important after the recent history of natural disasters in the region.

"Each Marine and Malaysian was acutely aware of the importance of this training," Johnson said. "We have a duty to the victims of disaster, not just as Americans, but as good citizens of the world."

In just the past few months, a cyclone hit Myanmar, an earthquake struck China that was strong enough to be felt in Hanoi and Bangkok, two earthquakes in Sumatra rocked Indonesia and Malaysia, and a strong typhoon destroyed many towns in the northern Philippines.

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

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