US task force to participate in CARAT 2014

From the Philippine News Agency (Jun 25): US task force to participate in CARAT 2014
 
A US Navy task force, composed of four ships, will be participating in CARAT 2014, which will formally start this June 26.

CARAT refers to "Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training."

The American contingent will consist of the USS Halsey (DDG-97) or the USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), 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, two landing craft air cushion, underwater demolition teams, Seabees, a mobile diving salvage unit, explosive ordnance division unit, and company sized amphibious assault vehicles.

The US Embassy in Manila, in a statement, said CARAT Philippines is part of a broader bilateral exercise series the US Navy conducts with nine partner navies in South and Southeast Asia to address shared maritime security priorities, strengthen maritime partnerships and enhance interoperability among participating navies.

The Philippines has participated since the series began in 1995, and CARAT exercises over the past two decades are clear examples of the longstanding and close US-Philippines navy-to-navy relationship.

As a long-standing exercise, CARAT promotes regional maritime cooperation with many participating navies; it is not in response to current events.

The 2014 CARAT series began in late May, is taking place in Malaysia now, and continues through end of year with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore and Timor-Leste.

Joint planning for each phase of CARAT begins a year in advance and exercise phases take place during the same general time frame each year.

This year’s CARAT Philippines will focus on combined operations at sea, amphibious landings, diving and salvage, and maritime patrol and reconnaissance flights.

Sailors and Marines will exchange best practices and share information with their Philippine Armed Forces counterparts during multiple professional exchanges and seminars ashore.

Civil action projects, community service events and band concerts will facilitate interaction with the local community.

2014 Exercise events will occur in several locations ashore and at sea including Subic Bay, San Antonio in Zambales, Sangley Point in Cavite City, and Ternate. Previous CARAT exercises were held in Mindanao (2012), Palawan (2011), Subic Bay (2010 and 2013), Cebu (2009) and other locations.

As in years past, the sea phase will take place in international waters west of Subic Bay.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=656850