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Maritime Cooperation a Key Theme for CARAT Malaysia 2009

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090623-10
Release Date: 6/23/2009 3:58:00 PM
Top News Story - Editors should consider using these stories first in local publications.

By Lt. Mike Morley, Commander Task Group 73.5 Public Affairs

TERENGGANU, Malaysia (NNS) -- A diverse group of ships, aircraft and ground units from the armed forces of Malaysia and the U.S. will train together during the 15th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise, which began in Malaysia June 23.

"The CARAT exercise enhances our ability to work together, and enhances the existing bonds and friendships between our defensive forces," said Lt. Gen. Dato' Allatif Bin Mohd Nor, commander, Joint Force, Malaysian Armed Forces, during the CARAT Malaysia opening ceremony at the Awana Kijal Hotel.

"Each of our forces come here with unique experiences, and by exercising our interoperability, we will achieve mutual understanding and benefits."

Allatif was joined at the ceremony by Vice Adm. John M. Bird, commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, who emphasized the importance of international maritime coordination.

"Global stability is tied to cooperative maritime partnerships – Malaysia knows this - and our nations have demonstrated the ability to work together and develop unified responses," Bird said. "We live and operate in a changing, dynamic maritime environment… and exercises like CARAT are key to keeping our skills sharp."

Since 1995, CARAT has provided the U.S. and six other Southeast Asian nations – the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia – the opportunity to exchange knowledge and expand and sharpen maritime security through shared training, equipment and manpower.

During the 10-day Malaysia phase of CARAT, the Royal Malaysian and U.S. navies will conduct surface and air defense gunnery operations, undersea warfare, casualty evacuation, diving and salvage, and logistics management. In addition, there will be tactical scenarios where Royal Malaysian Navy ships operate with their U.S. Navy counterparts in teams.

U.S. Marines from 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, will take part in jungle training and an amphibious landing exercise with the 8th and 9th Battalions of Malaysia's Royal Ranger Regiment.

The combined CARAT task group, under the leadership of Malaysian Armed Forces Col. Stephen Mundaw, exercise director, Joint Force Headquarters J3, and Commodore William Kearns III, commander, Task Group 73.5, is made up of ships and aircraft from both navies.

Task Group 73.5 consists of the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), the guided-missile destroyers USS Chafee (DDG 90) and USS Chung Hoon (DDG 93) and rescue-salvage ship USNS Safeguard (ARS 50). Other U.S. units participating in CARAT Malaysia include P-3C Orion, F/A-18 Hornets and SH-60 Seahawk aircraft, Navy Seabees, a U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team and a Navy mobile security squadron.

Kearns is embarked aboard Harpers Ferry, which operates from Sasebo, Japan, as part of 7th Fleet's Forward Deployed Naval Forces. Kearns' staff is based in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Approximately 1,600 U.S. personnel will take part in CARAT 2009.