RP-US Carat 2006 opens at Subic

SUBIC BAY, Zambales — A week-long bilateral exercise involving fleet-marine forces of the Philippine Navy (PN) and the US Navy took off yesterday following the arrival here of a 2,000-strong contingent aboard a total of 10 warships and landing vessels.

Five American warships and their Philippine counterparts are participating in this year’s RP-US Cooperation Afloat and Training (CARAT) Exercise 2006, a series of drills and simulation activities aimed at strengthening the inter-operational combat skills of the two forces.

The military exercise is one of the activities approved by the RP-US Mutual Defense Board (MDB) under the RP-US Mutual Defense Treaty.

Capt. Feliciano Angue, PN’s exercise director for CARAT 2006, said the joint military exercise will be a combined naval tactical operations training that will take fleet-marine forces of the Philippines and the US to various training sites in the Subic Bay Freeport, Zambales and La Union.

Aside from the five PN ships, aircraft, and Philippine naval special operations team will join the annual war games with their US counterparts.

Angue said the CARAT exercises will mark the first time that the Philippine Coast Guard will participate in the joint naval exercises.

"Preparedness is everything. And so, this year’s CARAT training will be full of exercises and drills that will help improve our maritime skills," Angue said.

The joint exercise also "assures the country of preparation and foresight which are an advantage for maritime defense," Angue said.

US Navy’s Rear Adm. William Burke, for his part, stressed the long-standing friendship between the US and the Philippines which has been the foundation for the annual CARAT exercises.

"The Philippines and the US have a friendship that dates back to the golden years of sailing, and this year’s exercises promise to enhance maritime security which is a priority for both navies," Burke said.

He said the CARAT exercises have evolved into "a mutually beneficial exercise that makes both marine forces highly competitive."

"This even has become mutually beneficial for us in today’s fast changing security environment," Burke added.

Last Monday, five participating US Navy ships began arriving here for the exercise. Among them are the USS Tortuga, USS Hopper, USS Cromelin, USS Salvor, and USCGC Sherman.

Ensign Michael Buraga, Chief Operation Officer of the Philippine Navy’s CARAT 2006 Public Information Office, said the participating ships from the Navy include the BRP Apolinario Mabini, BRP Heracleo Alano, BRP Teotimo Figuracion and BRP Bacolod City.

Buraga said some 2,000 Filipino sailors and their American counterparts and Marines will hold a series of drills and simulation activities aimed at strengthening the operational skills of the PN’s fleet and the Marines.

The fleet-marine tandem is the PN’s contribution to the internal security operations of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said Navy chief Vice Admiral Mateo Mayuga.

In addition to maritime security training, CARAT 2006 will include at-sea maneuvering and communications, maritime interdiction, search and rescue, and diving and salvage routine activities.

Symposiums on "visit, board, search and seizure, and aircraft" will also be held during the exercise.

In line with CARAT’s civil-military operations component, Burke said participating seacraft from both the Philippines and the US navies will open their doors to civilian individuals and groups who are interested in taking tours on board.

Medical and dental teams of the two naval forces will also hold outreach activities for residents in selected communities in Zambales and La Union, Burke said.