Second Phase of CARAT Indonesia Underway
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Lily DanielsCommander, Task Group 73.5 Public Affairs
JAKARTA, Indonesia - More than 100 U.S. and Indonesian Sailors joined together Aug. 24 at the Indonesian Western Fleet Headquarters to kick off the second half of Cooperation Afloat Readiness Training (CARAT) Indonesia 2009.
Commander, Indonesian Navy Western Fleet Command, Rear Adm. Soeparno Djasmin officially opened the exercise after welcoming members of both navies, and stressed the importance of training on mutually important maritime security areas.
“At the end of the exercise, I hope all of the participants are able to better understand laws of the sea and apply the knowledge properly. I also hope that we can broaden our knowledge about piracy, the threats, the types of piracy and the actions we need to handle them,” added Soeparno.
Commander, Task Force 73, Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, echoed Soeparno�s statements on the exercises� importance, noting, �Exercises like CARAT serve to reinforce that cooperation between our two countries, which in turn contributes to greater regional stability.�
CARAT exercise is an exchange of expertise and the exercise of maritime security skills while strengthening interoperability between the U.S. and the Southeast Asian nations of the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Indonesia.
This year, the Indonesia phase of CARAT was divided into two parts due to operational commitments of both navies. Approximately 600 Sailors from the USS Russell (DDG 59) and USS Crommelin (FFG 37) will engage in various symposia including aviation, legal and military operations. Hundreds of Indonesian Sailors will also participate in at-sea exercises, which include surface, anti-submarine warfare and tactical freeplay scenarios.
In addition to the training, Sailors will distribute sporting goods to a local elementary school as part of a community project, and musicians from the Commander, Seventh Fleet Band will perform public concerts at area malls.
(Posted August 24, 2009)