Royal Thai, U.S. Navy Divers Share Training During CARAT
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090712-08
Release Date: 7/12/2009 6:34:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (AW/NAC) Thomas Brennan, Commander, Task Group 73.5 Public Affairs
SATTAHIP, Thailand (NNS) -- U.S. Navy divers and their Royal Thai Navy (RTN) counterparts took advantage of an invaluable training opportunity July 10, participating in a joint dive exercise at Sattahip Naval Base.
During the exercise, part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2009, divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 and the RTN shared updated equipment and procedures with one another, with an emphasis on safety in the diving environment.
"This is a partnership," said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Troy Roat, MDSU 1 diving officer. "We are always working to develop the most effective diving plan, and that's an evolutionary process."
RTN divers got their first opportunity to use new Kirby Morgan KM 37 helmets recently acquired by MDSU 1. The KM 37, an updated version of the KM 21 helmet currently used by the Thai navy, allows divers to reach even further depths for extended time periods.
Despite some challenges from the language barrier, Roat was confident that ideas were clearly communicated between the two dive teams.
"Divers are very intuitive people. Their training and practices are parallel to ours," he added.
After receiving a copy of MDSU 1's latest diving manual, RTN Diver Lt. Niran Kongnan described the diving phase of CARAT as a "great training opportunity." The RTN divers plan on translating the manual from English to Thai.
Since 1995, CARAT has provided the United States and six Southeast Asian nations – Thailand, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia – the opportunity to exchange knowledge and enhance maritime security through shared training, equipment and manpower.
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