US Navy Ships Arrive Today For CARAT Exercise

Bandar Seri Begawan - The USS Harpers Ferry, USS Safeguard, USS Rodney M Davis and USS Paul Hamilton arrive today to begin the Brunei phase of the 2005 edition of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series, a press release from the US Embassy stated.

CARAT is part of a normal pattern of military cooperation exercises intended to improve military readiness and interoperability between the US and participating friendly countries in Southeast Asia.

In addition to Brunei, this year's CARAT involves bilateral exchanges with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Brunei has been a participant in CARAT since the programme's inception in 1995. Prior to that, the Royal Brunei Navy and US Navy participated in the - Kingfisher exercises dating back to the early 1990s.

One of the goals of CARAT this year is to exercise skills with participating nations that contribute to the fight against seaborne threats and transnational crimes at sea.

This year, two officers from the Royal Brunei Navy will be sailing on the USS Rodney M Davis and the USS Harpers Ferry from Surabaya, Indonesia to Brunei. Additionally, the Brunei military will be participating in joint at-sea exercises.

As part of CARAT's cultural exchange and mutual understanding component, US Navy sailors will have an opportunity to meet with Bruneians and learn more about the country's customs and traditions. They will also be taking part in community service work with Pusat Ehsan. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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