1,000 US-Filipino troops, sailors to take part in CARAT 2014

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 19): 1,000 US-Filipino troops, sailors to take part in CARAT 2014

Around 1,000 US and Filipino troopers and seamen will be participating in CARAT 2014, which is scheduled from June 26 to July 1.

CARAT refers to "Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training" between the Philippines and US Navies.

Lt. (JG) Rommel Rodriquez, Philippine Fleet spokesperson, said the American contingent will consist of the USS Halsey (DDG-97), an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, USS Ashland (LSD-48), a Whidbey Island-class docking landing ship, USS Safeguard (ARS-50), a Safeguard-class rescue vessel, Sikorsky SH-60 "Seahawk" helicopters, two landing craft air cushion, underwater demolition teams, Seabees, a mobile diving salvage unit, explosive ordnance division unit, and company sized amphibious assault vehicles.

While the Filipino contingent to CARAT 2014 consist of the BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PF-16), BRP Emilio Jacinto (PS-35), two AgustaWestland AW-109E helicopters, an Norman Britten Islander aircraft, one Naval Special Operations Group explosive ordnance unit, three diving teams, two special boat teams, two Marine companies, communication team, band, logistic and Seabees units.

US Navy participants to CARAT 2014 will arrive by June 26 in Subic Bay, Zambales.

"There will be classroom-style discussions on safety, maritime defense awareness, flight operations, EOD training, and 'cold form' amphibious operations planning," Rodriquez added.

While on June 27, the second day of the training, discussions and training on side-scan sonar will take place.

Side-scan sonar is used for hydrographic surveys and on June 29, both US and Philippine participants will conduct maritime surveillance exercises.

Rodriquez said on June 29, a gunnery exercise will take place 39 nautical miles southwest off Sampaloc Point, which is located on the lower tip of Zambales.

All surface ship assets participating in CARAT 2014 will participate in this activity, he added.

"(Aside from this), we'll also conduct maritime interdiction operations, visit board-search-and-seizure exercises at sea, all will be within the (above-mentioned) area, riverine (exercises) and diving and communication exercises will take place on June 28 and 29," Rodriquez stressed.

The Philippine Fleet spokesperson also clarified that CARAT 2014 has nothing to do with the ongoing maritime dispute with China concerning Scarborough Shoal.

"This is purely training, a purely maritime training activity that is conducted annually. It has no connection with the current dispute (issue on territorial claims). Just to emphasize that both our Navies have conducted CARAT activities in different areas in the Philippines, the previous CARAT exercise in 2009 was in Cebu, 2010 in Subic, 2011 in Palawan, 2012 was held in Mindanao, in 2013 in Subic. Carat is on its 20th year now since its inception (and)this shows the longstanding relations between the two allies," he pointed out.

Rodriquez also stressed that China has nothing to worry about the exercise.

"This has nothing to do with Philippine-China dispute or the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea. This is a regular training activity that we are conducting every year; even before this recent territorial issues, we have been conducting this (for a long time)," he concluded.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=655010