US, Singapore Navies Complete Complex Training, Achieve New Milestones During CARAT 2015

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gregory A. Harden II, Commander, Task Force 73 Public Affairs

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy completed the 21st annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore after 11 days of comprehensive training both at sea and ashore, July 24.

CARAT Singapore featured a series of dynamic training engagements including a five-day sea phase involving ships, submarines and aircraft from both countries.

"Having arrived in Southeast Asia in 2012, this was my third time participating in CARAT Singapore and each year, the exercise gets better and better," said Capt. Fred Kacher, commodore, Destroyer Squadron 7 and co-commander of the exercise task group. "The high-end tactical and integrated warfare that was on display this week proved what a valuable training partner Singapore is and how important we view this maritime relationship."

Building on CARAT's emphasis of increasing the complexity of combined scenarios each year, USN and RSN ships, submarines and aircraft operated together during joint torpedo and gunnery exercises, launched unmanned aerial vehicles, performed deck landing qualifications with embarked aircraft, and conducted concurrent simulated underway replenishments with the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Pecos (T-AO 197).

The RSN's Formidable-class frigate RSS Supreme (73), Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) S-70B Seahawk helicopter and the USN's MH-60R Seahawk helicopter took part in the successful combined torpedo firing exercise July 22. Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, RSN Fleet Commander Rear Adm. Lew Chuen Hong, Rear Adm. Charles Williams, commander of the USN's Logistics Group Western Pacific, and members of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs (GPC-DFA) were underway on board Supreme to observe the TORPEX.

The highlight of this year's exercise was the inaugural use of unmanned aircraft systems. The MQ-8B Fire Scout, embarked on the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), and the RSN's Scan Eagle UAV operated in the joint environment, demonstrating the value of unmanned platforms in providing an enhanced maritime domain awareness picture for the afloat task group.

"CARAT Singapore has increased in scope and complexity over the years. The successful conduct of the combined torpedo firing and the UAV operations underscores the high level of interoperability and trust both navies have achieved," said Col. Seah Poh Yeen, the RSN's co-commander of the exercise task group, in a Ministry of Defence press release July 22.

Additionally, Fort Worth conducted deck landing qualifications during the sea phase, landing the RSAF's S-70B on its flight deck. The DLQs on Fort Worth marked the first time a RSAF landed on board a LCS, showcasing the versatility of the rotary wing assets.

In another first, a sortie of two RSAF F-15SG Strike Eagle jets overflew the ships, providing an opportunity for the task group to practice integrated air defense measures.

Shore-based training included visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) drills, military law enforcement expert exchanges, medical culinary and aviation exchanges, and a community service project. Sailors from the USN and RSN coastal riverine teams also conducted advanced small-boat training and boarding drills.

More than personnel from both countries participated in CARAT Singapore 2015. In addition to Fort Worth, U.S. assets included the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82), a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from Patrol Squadron (VP) 15, the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Houston (SSN 713), USNS Pecos (T-AO 197), U.S. Marine Corps military police, and a Navy Riverine Squadron. RSN assets included the Supreme, Victory-class missile corvettes RSS Vigour (92) and RSS Valour (89), Fearless-class patrol vessel RSS Fearless (94), and Archer-class submarine RSS Archer.

The Republic of Singapore has been part of the CARAT exercise series since it began in 1995. After more than two decades of annual training events between the armed forces, CARAT Singapore remains a model for cooperation that has evolved in complexity and enables both navies to refine operations and tactics in response to both traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges.

Following CARAT Singapore, additional bilateral phases of CARAT will occur from July through November 2015 with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

Commander, Task Force 73 and DESRON 7 staff conduct advanced planning, organize resources and directly support 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.

Norfolk Firefighting School Turns Up the Heat During Live Exercise

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Molly Anne Greendeer, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- The Norfolk Farrier Fire Fighting School is nearing the end of its annual Damage Control Assistant/Senior Enlisted (DCA/SE) course for 16 international students as they began a live-firefighting exercise Aug. 8.

The seven-week course is designed to teach national and international sailors how to identify and combat shipboard damages. This particular course was an identical DCA/SE course that is offered at the Surface Warfare Officers School (SWOS) Command in Norfolk.

Sailors from the Colombian, Republic of Korea, Republic of Singapore, Lithuanian Naval Force and Royal Saudi navies attended the course.

Each year, navies from around the world have the opportunity to send officers and senior enlisted to the course where damage control personnel learn how the U.S. Navy prepares for and deals with shipboard damage.

"We do this course annually to teach them what our DCAs do on ships here," said Chief Damage Controlman Michael Lewis, one of the course instructors. "We talk to them and teach them what we do and they give us input on how they would handle the same situations."

Chief Damage Controlman Melvin Smith, an instructor at the school encourages all allied navies to take the course and learn as much as they can about the U.S. Navy's techniques and to share its methods to become more efficient in damage control efforts.

"It's important to stay relevant," said Smith. "We continually upgrade our techniques and take what we learn from our international students to provide the best damage control training possible."

"All the students come here with knowledge of what damage control is all about," said Lewis. "Because they already know the basic language of damage control, it makes it easier for us to communicate and demonstrate our damage control techniques."

Students have the opportunity to use their own navy's firefighting techniques while learning new techniques during a firefighting and wet trainer, which are designed to simulate real-life situations.

"We put them in situations and we put pressure on them to see what kind of decisions they are going to make, because damage control is all about how quickly you assess the damage and make decisions," said Damage Controlman 1st Class Paul Andersen. "We want to know how they would prioritize the damages and balance their resources."

Colombian Senior Chief Damage Contolman German Castilla-Castillo said he was amazed at the size and realness of the live firefighting facilities.

 "We have never fought fires on a big scale like this," said Castilla-Castillo. "The time and effort put into the training exercises better prepare myself and those who work under me."

Smith said it is important to ensure that all demonstrations and courses emphasize safety of students and service members and hopes the students go on to supervise after returning to their home country.

"Safety is paramount," said Smith. "Before the students put their hands on any equipment or run through any training exercise, we do a safety brief. We want to make sure they are prepared for any situation."

The course stresses that safety is just as important when they return to their ships as every ship is at risk of encountering a dangerous situation.

"Damage control is an international concern." said Damage Contolman 1st Class Scott Cheesbrough. "No matter what ship you are on and no matter what country you are from, ultimately those ships go in harm's way."

The students will graduate from the course Aug. 16.

Chairman Meets With Singapore Defense Officials

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

SINGAPORE, – Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spent the day here meeting with Singapore’s defense officials and visiting the island nation’s military facilities.

Tomorrow is the first full day of the 11th annual Asia security conference known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, which the chairman will attend for the first time. Defense leaders and officials from 27 Asia-Pacific nations will attend the sessions, and both Dempsey and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will meet with several of those officials as well as attend general sessions focused on regional security issues.

The chairman started today at the U.S. Embassy, where he met with U.S. Ambassador David I. Adelman and his country team. Marine Corps Col. David A. Lapan, the chairman’s spokesman, said the meeting focused on the strong U.S.-Singapore military relationship.

That relationship is outlined in the 2005 Strategic Framework Agreement between the two countries, and includes a regular exchange of visits between defense leaders as well as exercises such as Commando Sling, an annual event begun in 1990 to provide combined air combat training for fighter units from the two nations’ air forces.

Dempsey also handed out coins to U.S. Marines serving in the embassy detachment and stood for photos with them.

The chairman then traveled to the Singapore Ministry of Defense, where he met with Singapore Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, Chief of Defense Forces Lt. Gen. Neo Kian Hong and the chiefs of Singapore’s army, navy and air force.

During Singapore Defense Minister Ng’s Pentagon visit in April, he and Defense Secretary Panetta discussed the planned rotational deployment of a U.S. littoral combat ship squadron.

Dempsey said earlier on this trip that the LCS deployment will begin next year, with a member of his staff serving as the commander of the first rotational unit.

Dempsey also visited Sembawang Air Base in northern Singapore, where he received a briefing on the development and operations of the Singapore armed forces, known as the SAF, and took an area familiarization flight on a SAF helicopter.

Lapan said the Singapore military is not only a strong bilateral partner but also a catalyst for regional security cooperation. “They have one of the best-trained and equipped militaries in [the] Asia-Pacific,” he added.

The chairman’s trip continues tomorrow with a full day of Shangri-La Dialogue sessions, anchored by Panetta’s opening address in the morning.

USS Abraham Lincoln Arrives in Singapore

By USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs

SINGAPORE (NNS) -- USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 arrived in Singapore, Feb. 16, to enjoy liberty, meet with local professionals and colleagues, and serve the community.

Approximately 5,000 Lincoln and CVW 2 Sailors will visit the island to experience the rich culture and history of one of the world's most thriving nations.

While in Singapore, Lincoln will host a reception for nearly 400 distinguished visitors. Guests of honor include Republic of Singapore Navy Fleet Commander, Rear Adm. Joseph Leong and U.S. Ambassador to Singapore David Adelman.

"Singapore continues to be one of our strongest strategic partners in Asia and a key contributor to international maritime security; the region is more stable, secure and prosperous than ever thanks to our maritime cooperation efforts," said Rear Adm. Mark Guadagnini, Commander, Abraham Lincoln Strike Group.

During the reception and following days, more than 1,000 visitors are expected to tour the ship, including notable guests from the Singapore Sailing Federation, members of the Republic of Singapore Air Force, numerous international ambassadors, law enforcement officials, and Ms. Singapore 2009 Rachel Kum.

Students from the National University of Singapore's School of Public Policy will also receive a tour and a special presentation on women in leadership roles from Capt. Carol A. Hottenrott, Commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9.

While in Singapore, Lincoln Strike Group Sailors will participate in six community service events, including a visit to the Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore, an organization which provides free, therapeutic horse riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities from all over Singapore.

"By working together to expand our partnership, Singapore and the United States will continue to foster and enable the conditions for prosperity within the Southeast Asian region, and free use of the sea lanes by all peaceful nations of the world," said Guadagnini.

The Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group is in the U.S. 7th Fleet's area of responsibility as part of a routine deployment to promote peace, cooperation and stability in the region. The ships of Lincoln Strike Group currently reach all corners of 7th Fleet, from the USS Shoup in Australia, to USS Halsey underway near Hong Kong, and

USS Cape St. George

visiting Phuket, Thailand.

Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group consists of flagship USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, San Diego-based guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71), and the embarked Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9. Ships assigned to DESRON 9 include the Everett-based destroyers Momsen (DDG 92) and Shoup (DDG 86), as well as USS Halsey (DDG 97) and USS Sterett (DDG 104).

For more information on Abraham Lincoln Strike Group and the USS Abraham Lincoln, visit www.facebook.com/usslincoln or http://www.navy.mil/local/cvn72/.