By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joe Bishop, USS
Fort Worth Public Affairs
SULU SEA (NNS) -- The littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth
(LCS 3) wrapped up its participation in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and
Training (CARAT) exercises with both Indonesia and Malaysia following an Aug.
21 closing ceremony held in Sandakan, Malaysia.
CARAT is a series of bilateral naval exercises between the
U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei,
Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and
Timor-Leste.
In deepening navy-to-navy relationships, Fort Worth visited
Surabaya, Indonesia, for the first time in her 16-month rotational deployment
to U.S. 7th Fleet. This port visit is particularly significant for Fort Worth,
as she was part of the Indonesian-led Air Asia search efforts in the Java Sea.
"It was a pleasure operating at sea with our TNI-AL
(Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Laut) naval partners during the sea
phase of CARAT Indonesia", said Cmdr. Christopher Brown, commanding
officer of Fort Worth. "Fort Worth once again demonstrated its combat
capabilities and relevance in the region while fostering long-term personal and
professional relationships with our Southeast Asian partners."
CARAT is a model of how the TNI-AL and U.S. Navies can
cooperate and work together to enhance interoperability, develop relationships
and address shared maritime security priorities, as in the visit, board, search
and seizure (VBSS) exercises. TNI Sailors conducted their first VBSS boarding
of Fort Worth during this year's CARAT.
"During CARAT Indonesia LCS SUW DET FOUR (Surface
Warfare Mission Package, Detachment 4) and the Indonesian navy had an
outstanding opportunity to interact and exchange VBSS tactics and hold
discussions about our different capabilities", said Lt. j.g. Andrew Pena,
officer in charge of Detachment 4. "These positive interactions culminated
in two successful at-sea VBSS exercises between our Navies."
This year's CARAT Indonesia also provided the opportunity
for TNI pilots to practice deck landings on the flight deck of Fort Worth with
a Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BO-105 Indonesian navy helicopter.
CARAT Malaysia 2015 consists of five days of shore-based and
at sea training events designed to address shared maritime security concerns,
build relationships, and enhance interoperability among participating forces.
"This marks the 21st year that the U.S. and Malaysian
Armed Forces have come together for CARAT and our enhanced military partnership
today reflects the maturity of this relationship," said Rear Adm. Charlie
Williams, commander, Task Force 73. "Partnerships matter in this region;
sustained partnerships matter even more."
The Royal Malaysian Navy for the first time conducted deck
landing practice with its Super Lynx helicopter on the flight deck of Fort
Worth. The bilateral and multilateral exercises provide a regional venue to
develop strong maritime partnerships that contribute to the greater peace and
stability of the region.
"CARAT is a practical way for our two navies to address
shared maritime security priorities in a realistic training environment,"
said Capt. H.B. Le, commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7.
"The Malaysian Armed Forces have been a part of CARAT
since its inception, and our partnership's spanning more than two decades
demonstrates a firm mutual commitment to stability and security throughout the
region."
U.S. units participating in the exercise include the
littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), the amphibious dock landing ship
USS Germantown (LSD 42), a P-3C Orion, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion
(NMCB) 5, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, Coastal Riverine
Group (CRG) 1, and U.S. Marines assigned to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary
Brigade (III MEB).
The U.S. 7th Fleet conducts forward-deployed naval
operations in support of U.S. national interests in the Indo-Asia-Pacific area
of operations. As the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet, U.S. 7th Fleet
interacts with 35 other maritime nations to build partnerships that foster
maritime security, promote stability and prevent conflict.
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