CARAT exercise between U.S., PHL Navies opens

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 26): CARAT exercise between U.S., PHL Navies opens

SUBIC BAY, Olongapo City -- The Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) between members of the United States Navy (USN) and the Philippine Navy (PN) formally opened on Thursday at the Rivera wharf here.

Rear Admiral Jaime Bernardino, Philippine Fleet commander of the Philippine Navy, declared the formal opening in a simple program on board BRP Ramon Alcaraz.

“I encourage all participants to take advantage of the learning opportunity up ahead. Take advantage of this exercise. Learn and share,” Bernardino said.

Lt. JG Rommel Rodriguez, Philippine Fleet public affairs officer, said 700 sailors from the US Navy and 300 from the Philippine Navy are participating.

USN will deploy three ships and the PN, also three ships.

Docked at the Rivera and Alava wharfs in Subic Bay are BRP Alcaraz and BRP Emilo Jacinto and on the side of the USN, the guided missile destroyer USS John McCain.

Laurene Demsey, USN public affairs officers, said two other ships are arriving to join the guided missile destroyer.

Bernardino said BRP Gregorio del Pilar will also be deployed for the exercise.

He considered BRPs Caparaz and Jacinto as two of the latest ships of the Philippine Navy that will be tested for its capabilities in the exercise, including two newly-acquired helicopters.

Rear Admiral Stuart Munsch, commander of USN Task Force 74, described the two navies as having good working relations since 1995 when the exercise started in the Philippines.

“Each year, the partnership has become better. It is a proud partnership between two countries,” Munsch said.

Commodore Ronald Mercado, offshore combat force commander of the Philippine Navy, said CARAT is on its 20th edition in the Philippines.

CARAT is part of the bilateral exercise between the USN and PN.

Bernardino said the good relation between the two navies was tested in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda where the two forces quickly and effectively responded.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=657339