U.S., Philippine navies join for 17th CARAT Exercise in Palawan

By Hookele Staff
Hickman News, Saturday, July 2, 2011

Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Public Affairs

PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines (NNS) Three U.S. Navy ships arrived in Puerto Princesa, Philippines, to launch the 17th Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines on June 28.

Guided-missile destroyers USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), homeported at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, USS Howard (DDG 83) and diving and salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50) are the U.S. Navy’s centerpieces for the exercise, which features 11 days of training exchanges with the Philippine navy, both ashore and at sea.

This year marks the second time in recent years that CARAT has been held in Palawan. The exercise was held in Puerto Princesa in 2008, in 2009, the exercise was held in Cebu and in 2010 at Subic Bay.

Ashore training includes such specialties as visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) exercises, diver training, salvage operations, joint medical, dental and civic action projects, and aircrew familiarization exchanges. Additionally, there will be symposia on operations planning, search and rescue practices, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, interagency cooperation and public affairs.

The at sea phase of CARAT focuses on developing maritime security capabilities in areas such as maritime interdiction, information sharing, combined operations at sea, patrol operations and gunnery exercises, plus antipiracy and anti-smuggling exercises.

“The U.S. and Philippine navies have a long history of working together, and exercises like CARAT provide a great venue for us to hone our skills and increase our interoperability,” said Capt. David Welch, Commander, Task Group 73.1 and the commander for the exercise.

Approximately 800 U.S. Navy personnel are participating in CARAT Philippines 2011. In addition to the three ships, other participants include U.S. Navy Seabees, a U.S. Coast Guard maritime safety and security team (MSST), U.S. Navy Mobile Security Squadron, U.S. Navy Riverine Forces, medical support personnel, and P-3C Orion and SH-60 Seahawk aircraft.

CARAT is a series of annual bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. The CARAT series began in 1995 with six partner nations; Cambodia joined the series in 2009 and Bangladesh joined in 2010.

hookelenews.com

U.S. Navy Teams Up with Philippine Navy for CARAT Exercises

Defense, Maritime Security, Friday, July 1 2011

Three ships of the United States Navy arrived in Puerto Princesa, in the island of Palawan, the Philippines, on June 28: guided-missile destroyers USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93), USS Howard (DDG 83) and diving and salvage ship USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50). The ships were in the Southeast Asian archipelago to team up with the Philippine Navy for the 17th Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), a series of annual bilateral military exercises.

A feature on the Navy website shared that this is the second time that the island of Palawan played host to the exercises in the Philippines. Last year’s CARAT was held at Subic Bay, while Cebu hosted CARAT in 2009. The last time Palawan hosted the exercises was in 2008. CARAT consists of eleven days of training exchanges, both ashore and at sea.

Capt. David Welch, Commander of Task Group 73.1, shared: “The U.S. and Philippine navies have a long history of working together, and exercises like CARAT provide a great venue for us to hone our skills and increase our interoperability.”

Among the training activities are Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) exercises; diver training; salvage operations; joint medical, dental and civic action projects, and aircrew familiarization exchanges, as enumerated by the Navy feature. There will also be symposia conducted on the following topics: operations planning, search and rescue practices, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions, interagency cooperation and public affairs.

Aside from the Philippine Navy, the U.S. Navy also teams up with the Armed Forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand for CARAT exercises.

maritimesecurity.asia

Civic Action project jumpstarts CARAT 2011

PIA, Friday, July 1, 2011

ISABELA CITY, Basilan, July 1 (PIA) -– An Engineering Civic Action Project (ENCAP) jumpstarts the annual joint training exercise of United States forces and the Philippine Navy dubbed as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2011 in Palawan.

The 6th Civil Relations Group of the Armed Forces of the Philippines disclosed that an advance party of the United States naval contingent to participate in ENCAP at Barangay Mangingisda of Puerto Princesa City last week. The ENCAP was started a week earlier than the scheduled opening of the military exercise.

The American Navy personnel headed by Lt. Jun Pilon together with troops from the Naval Task Group Palawan (SEABEES) headed by Ens. Christian Carmona and Naval Forces West (NFW) started conducting excavation, site preparation and layout last June 22 in preparation for the construction of a social hall and comfort rooms in West Elementary School. The project is expected to be finished before the end of the CARAT 2011 Exercise.

CARAT 2011 is a ten-day joint naval tactical operation exercise between the forces of the Philippine and US navies mandated under the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty. This year’s exercise will be held on the eastern waters of Puerto Princesa City, Palawan and in the Sulu Sea.

The annual joint military exercise, which is being held for more than 10 years now, aims to strengthen cooperation between the two naval forces in fighting intercontinental and trans-border crimes that includes piracy, smuggling, human trafficking and maritime crimes.

Aside from holding military exercise, several community service projects are also lined up as part of CARAT 2011. These include community relations, medical and dental and engineering civic actions in host communities.

The US Navy will be sending three of its naval ships for the joint military exercise: the USS Chung Hoon, USS Howard and USNS Safeguard. (6CRGAFP/RVC-PIA9 BaSulTa)

pia.gov.ph

Phl Navy to join Brunei International Defense Exhibition

By Jell E Guzman
PIA, Wednesday, June 29, 2011

MANILA, June 29 (PIA) –- The Philippine Navy will be joining the naval forces from Brunei, Pakistan, Australia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States for the 3rd Brunei International Defense Exhibition (BRIDEX) on July 2, 2011.

Navy Flag officer in command Vice Admiral Alexander P. Pama said the activity will help the participants gain insights, at the same time appreciate the technology advancements and industry developments particularly on defense warfare.

The Philippine Navy contingent will be composed of the crew of the participating ships from the Naval Education and Training Command, Fleet Training Center, Philippine Navy Auxiliary Reserve Unit, Naval Modernization Office, Naval Doctrines Office, and the Naval Special Operations Group. A medical team from the Manila Naval Hospital will also join the group to provide medical assistance.

Likewise, the Navy will be sending two of its vessels, the Jacinto Class Patrol Vessel (BRP Apolinario Mabini – PS36) and Cyclone Class Vessel (BRP Gen. Mariano Alvarez – PS3838).

BRIDEX 2011 is a week-long event which highlights fleet review. It is also an excellent platform in building alliances, forging partnerships and capturing new business opportunities in a fast growing South East Asian region, as well as for networking, sharing ideas and knowledge, discussing technology advancements and industry developments.

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah of Brunei Darussalam will grace the event.

The premier defense and security exhibition in South East Asia brings together the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of defense and security equipment.

The upcoming event also serves as an exclusive marketplace to showcase the latest, innovative and value enhancing technology solutions in land, sea, air, and security systems to address the wide spectrum of security challenges. (PN/RJB/JEG-PIA NCR)

pia.gov.ph