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Second Phase of CARAT Indonesia Underway

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS090824-08
Release Date: 8/24/2009 10:23:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lily Daniels, Commander, Task Group 73.5 Public Affairs

JAKARTA, Indonesia (NNS) -- U.S. and Indonesian Sailors joined together Aug. 24 at the Indonesian Western Fleet Headquarters to kick off the second half of Cooperation Afloat Readiness Training (CARAT) Indonesia 2009.

Commander, Indonesian Navy Western Fleet Command, Rear Adm. Soeparno Djasmin officially opened the exercise, welcomed members of both navies and stressed the importance of training on mutually important maritime security areas.

"At the end of the exercise, I hope all of the participants are able to better understand laws of the sea and apply the knowledge properly. I also hope that we can broaden our knowledge about piracy, the threats, the types of piracy and the actions we need to handle them," added Soeparno.

Commander, Task Force 73, Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, echoed Soeparno's statements on the exercises' importance.

"Exercises like CARAT serve to reinforce that cooperation between our two countries, which in turn contributes to greater regional stability."

CARAT offers an exchange of expertise and the exercise of maritime security skills while strengthening interoperability among the United States and the Southeast Asian nations of the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia.

This year, the Indonesian phase of CARAT was divided into two parts due to operational commitments with both navies. Approximately 600 Sailors from USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS Crommelin (FFG 37) will engage in various symposia including aviation, legal and military operations. Hundreds of Indonesian Sailors will also participate in at-sea exercises, which include surface, anti-submarine warfare and tactical freeplay scenarios.

In addition to the training, Sailors will distribute sporting goods to a local elementary school as part of a community project, and musicians from Commander, 7th Fleet Band will perform public concerts at area malls.

For more information on CARAT 2009, visit www.clwp.navy.mil/carat2009.

For more news from Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/c7f/.