Annual Maritime Exercise with Singapore Underway

The 15th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise between the U.S. Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) kicked off June 8 in Singapore.

As reported by the Straits Times, approximately 1,500 personnel, dozens of aircraft and ships from both navies are taking part. For the first time in the exercise’s history, submarines from both navies will be operating together in a submarine tracking event.

The exercise began with a ceremony at the RSN’s Changi Naval Base. The Singapore Ministry of Defence has posted a video report on the exercise’s opening.

CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in the Southeast Asia region. The purpose of the exercise series, in keeping with the U.S. Pacific Command strategy, is to improve cooperation and interoperability with each CARAT partner in a variety of mission areas of mutual benefit.

Exercises such as CARAT improve partnership and readiness among regional nations to effectively respond to crises.

For more on CARAT, visit the exercise website.

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Community Outreach Expands CARAT Partnership

While Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen participating in Exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) have a primary focus of increasing interoperability between U.S. and Southeast Asia navies, they also take advantage of the opportunity to demonstrate their roles as global citizens.

The exercise series kicked off May 21 in the Philippines, and members took some time to participate in a number of community outreach projects.

Exercises like CARAT foster not only bilateral partnership between the participating nations, but also partnerships with the citizens of the visited countries. Each plays an important role in building trust and ultimately contributing to security and stability in the region.

Articles in the Philippine Inquirer and on the Exercise CARAT Web site highlighted some of the outreach projects the service members participated in during the Philippine Phase of the exercise. These projects focused on medical, dental and engineering outreach. Both U.S. and Philippine service members painted homes, delivered education and athletic materials to schools, and provided medical, dental and optometry care to more than 800 citizens.

CARAT will include similar events in other participating nations, which include Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

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Southeast Asia Exercise Series Seeks to Enhance Cooperation

The first phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), a three-month series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore, began this week in the Philippines.

CARAT, which is anchored by a four-ship U.S. Navy task group, is focused on enhancing maritime skills and operational readiness in a variety of areas, including maritime interception. While the operational training in each phase varies based on the desires of the host nation, common to each phase is an emphasis on information sharing, and collaboration during planning and execution.

Indonesia participates in a similar exercise, a Naval Engagement Activity (NEA).

Each phase of CARAT includes a number of outreach projects in local communities by Sailors and Marines and their exercise counterparts. Some phases include medical, dental and engineering assistance.

As reported by the Cebu Daily News and the Philippine Information Agency, routine medical and dental assistance will be provided in a number of areas in Cebu during the Philippines phase.

The CARAT Task Group consists of USS Harpers Ferry, USS Chung Hoon, USS Chafee, and USS Crommelin. USS John S. McCain, USS Russell, and USNS Safeguard will participate in designated phases.

In its 15th year, CARAT is an enduring example of U.S. Pacific Command’s emphasis on a cooperative approach to addressing common challenges and threats, such as maritime security.

Keep up with the exercise series on the CARAT website.

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