528 from 9 nations take part in Navy exercise
Published on: Thursday, June 02, 2016
Sandakan: A total of 528 participants from nine nations joined the 22nd edition of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (Carat) 2016 exercise which took place at Sandakan and Lahad Datu from May 30 until June 4.Joint Force Headquarters Chief of Staff Rear Admiral Dato' Mohammad Adib Abdul Samad, said for the first time this year, the exercise will also involve a multilateral exercise involving the Philippine Navy."This year Carat also created a new chapter by moving into a new maritime segment from bilateral into multilateral where Malaysian Navy, US Navy and the Philippines Navy will share information and maritime domain awareness to address trans-border crime and illegal activities," he said during a press conference after the launching of Carat 2016 at the Markas Pangkalan Hadapan here, Wednesday.
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Also present were Commander Task Force 73 (CTF 73) Rear Admiral Charles William (USN), Forward Base Commander (TLDM Sandakan), First Admiral Datuk Saifudin Kamarudin and Destroyer Squadron 7 commodore Captain H.B. Le.Adib said the Philippine navy will be ready at their waters boundary for the exercise.The Carat 2016 consists of Sea Operation, Force Protection Training, Medical and Dental Civic Action Program (MEDCAP & DENCAP), Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Amphibious Landing.Among the assets that will be utilised during the exercise are KD Jebat, KA Bunga Mas Lima, USS Stethem, USS Ashland, TUDM's Hawk and PC3 Orion aircraft.
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The focus of CARAT 2016 are towards maritime exercise, amphibious landing operation and encompasses training, improvised explosive device, theory and practical training, medical-tactical combat casualty care training and jungle survival.Other than that, the Program Jiwa Murni will be held at SK Bambangan while a civic programme was held at Health Clinic Felda Sahabat 12, Lahad Datu, on Wednesday where the team built a gazebo for the comfort of outpatients.
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US ships and units participating in Carat Malaysia include the Arleigh-Burke class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), the expeditionary transfer dock USNS Montford Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, Seabees form Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4, Coastal Riverine Group (CRG) 1 and Marines from 3rd Marine Division.Adib said the amphibious landing exercise will be done at Pantai Tanduo, Lahad Datu which will involve the three Rejimen Askar Melayu Diraja (RAMD) and USMC team. Meanwhile, William said, Carat 2016 will be the most complex series to date."Its continuing relevance for more than two decades speaks to the high quality of exercise events and the enduring value of regional cooperation among allies and partners in South and Southeast Asia," he added.He added that the US Navy have been working very closely with the Malaysian Armed Forces for 22 years as part of Carat and over that time, have developed a familiarity with each other's capabilities that allows them to push the envelope with the planning and execution of each exercise something that is important in such a diverse maritime environment.As a premier naval engagement in South and Southeast Asia, Carat provides a regional venue to address shared maritime security priorities, enhance interoperability among participating forces, and develop sustained naval partnerships with nations across South and Southeast Asia."Our persistent engagement with our allies and partners through Carat builds trust and creates strong relationship that endure beyond the exercise series."This translates to increased readiness and interoperability that allows us to work closely with navies across the region and enhance cooperative maritime security," he said.Carat Malaysia will take place on the ground in Sandakan and in the waters and airspace of the Sulu Sea. The Malaysian Armed Forces have participated in Carat since the exercise series began in 1995 and this year's exercise reflects more than two decades of increasingly complex training ashore, at sea and in the air.The harbour phase for Carat Malaysia will feature an amphibious landing, as well as explosive ordinance training, medical and dental capabilities seminars and a civil-engineering project.At sea, flight operations, coordinated gunnery drills and surface warfare manoeuvres will highlight an exercise that continues the trend of increasing complexity each year.Earlier, in his speech, Adib said, the conduct of the series of Carat exercises in Malaysia is significant to both Malaysia and the US forces especially to the Malaysian Armed Forces."This exercise is seen as a catalyst which will propel us into strengthening the cooperation between our two forces," he said.Adib said the Carat exercise also is a significant event in the yearly calendar since its inception. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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