US, Brunei Navy Kick Off CARAT Exercise

Rear Adm. Joey Tynch, commander Logistics Group Western Pacific, pilots a Royal Brunei Air Force S-70i Black Hawk helicopter during CARAT Brunei.  Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher A. Veloicaza.

The U.S. and Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) commenced the25th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) maritime exerciseat Muara Naval Base, Brunei, Oct. 22.

CARAT Brunei reflects the growing partnership between theU.S. Navy and the Royal Brunei Navy to further expand bilateral andmultilateral exercises and cooperatively ensure maritime security, stability,and prosperity.

CARAT, the U.S. Navy's oldest and longest continuallyrunning regional exercise in South and Southeast Asia, strengthens partnershipsbetween regional navies and enhances maritime security cooperation throughoutthe Indo-Pacific.

U.S. Navy (USN) Rear Adm. Joey Tynch, commander, LogisticsGroup Western Pacific, who oversees security cooperation for the U.S. Navy inSoutheast Asia, said that CARAT Brunei was an opportunity for friends andpartners to work together and address shared maritime security priorities.

“I often say we are strongest when we sail together with ourfriends and partners,” said Tynch, who is also a career helicopter pilot. “Andwhen we fly together, we demonstrate a level of trust and cooperation that isunmatched.”

The sea phase will take place in the South China Sea with ships and aircraft from both partner militaries.

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Joey Tynch, commander Logistics Group Western Pacific (right), and Royal Brunei Armed Forces Brig. Gen. Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohd Sharif bin Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim, RBAF joint force commander (left), address questions from local media during a media availability event in support of CARAT Brunei. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher A. Veloicaza.

Evolutions at-sea will include division tactics designed toenhance communication as ships sail together in complex maneuvers, a photoexercise, a tracking exercise aimed at increasing both navies’ ability to trackand pursue targets through the coordinated deployment of surface ships andmaritime patrol aircrafts, visit board search and seizure (VBSS) drills, decklanding qualifications and medical evacuation simulations, gunnery exercises andbilateral underway replenishment scenarios.

Aviation events during CARAT Brunei, focusing on maritimedomain awareness (MDA), search and rescue, and interoperability, will featurehelicopters from the RBAF and USN, as well as the P-8A Poseidon.

Ashore events will feature joint training opportunities toinclude VBSS exchanges, mobile dive and salvage training, jungle warfaretraining and subject matter expert knowledge exchanges in MDA, aviation, andlaw. Additionally, several community outreach events are scheduled throughoutthe exercise, including a sports day, beach cleaning project, and joint publicperformances by the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet Band and the RBAF Band.

Marines and sailors from the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group(ARG) and 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participated in CARAT from Oct.7-20. More than 500 personnel attached to 11th MEU and USS Harper’s Ferry (LSD49) focused on small-unit training by conducting urban operations and junglewarfare training at the Penanjong Garrison. The training exercised ARG/MEU’samphibious capability and allowed U.S. Marines and sailors to exchangeknowledge, skills and information with RBAF to enhance individual and teamcapacity.

CARAT builds upon other engagements in South Asia, SoutheastAsia and the Pacific Islands including Pacific Partnership, the largest annualmultilateral humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission,Maritime Training Activity Malaysia, Maritime Training Activity Philippines,Pacific Griffin with Singapore and Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training,which involves nearly a dozen partner nations. These engagements bringlike-minded naval forces together routinely based on shared values and maritimesecurity interests.

As U.S. 7th Fleet's executive agent for theater security cooperation in South and Southeast Asia, Commander, Task Force 73 and Destroyer Squadron 7 conduct advanced planning, organize resources, and directly support the execution of CARAT and other engagements in the region.

Source: US Navy