Maritime
exchanges and training seminars. Civil action
projects, community service events and
combined military band concerts are also
planned to foster relationships and bonds
with the Filipino people.
"CARAT enables us to develop strong
relationships with our Philippine Navy and
Marine partners," said Rear Adm. Charles
Williams, Commander, Task Force 73. "Through
persistent presence and relationships,
we continue to make steady progress in
increasing the complexity of our training and
enhancing cooperation between our navies."
CARAT Philippines is part of a broader
exercise series the U.S. Navy conducts with
nine partner nations in South and Southeast
Asia to address shared maritime security
priorities, strengthen maritime partnerships
and enhance interoperability among
participating forces. The Philippines has
participated since the series began in 1995.
"CARAT strengthens the strong and
enduring relationships between the U.S.
and Philippine navies," said Rear Admiral
Ronald Joseph S. Mercado AFP, commander,
Philippine Fleet. "We're looking forward to
working along-side our U.S. Navy partners
during CARAT 2016.
U.S. Sailors and Marines participating in
CARAT Philippines 2016 represent a host
of ships, squadrons, and units from across
the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. This year's
exercise features the guided missile destroyer
USS Stethem (DDG 63), the landing dock
ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), and the diving
and salvage ship USNS Salvor (T-ARS-52),
along with a P-8 Poseidon aircraft, Navy
expeditionary forces, Marines assigned to the
III Marine Expeditionary Force - 3rd Marine
16
Division, a platoon from Explosive Ordnance
Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, staff from
Commander, Task Force 73 (CTF 73) and
Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, and the 7th
Fleet Band Orient Exp ress.
The Philippine Navy assets and units will
include the Minesweeper Frigate BRP Rizal
(PS74), the Del Pilar Class Frigate BRP Gregorio
Del Pilar (PF-15), a Landing Craft Heavy
vessel, an AW109 helicopter, an EOD Team,
Diving Team, Construction platoon, a Marine
Company and the Philippine Fleet Band.
"CARAT provides a great opportunity for our
navies to operate together at sea and train
during realistic scenarios that better prepare
our forces for real-world operations," said Capt.
H. B. Le, commodore, Destroyer Squadron
Seven. "With more than two decades of
experience working together we are able to
execute complex exercises that address shared
maritime security priorities and improve
interoperability between our navies."
CARAT 2016 will be the most complex series
to date. Its continuing relevance for more
than two decades speaks to the high quality
of exercise events and the enduring value
of regional cooperation among allies and
partners in South and Southeast Asia.
As U.S. 7th Fleet's executive agent for
theater security cooperation in South and
Southeast Asia, Commander, Task Force 73
conducts advanced planning, organizes
resources and directly supports the execution
of maritime exercises, such as the bilateral
CARAT series, the Naval Engagement Activity
(NEA) with Vietnam, and the multi-lateral
Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training
(SEACAT) with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.