USS Lassen Completes Successful At-Sea Phase of CARAT Singapore 2015

By Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Melissa K. Russell, Commander, Task Force 73 Public Affairs

SOUTH CHINA SEA (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Lassen (DDG 82) successfully completed five days of combined, at-sea training events with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), July 23, as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore 2015.

CARAT is an annual, bilateral exercise series designed to increase the interoperability among participating forces, address shared maritime security concerns, and develop relationships between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of partner nations.

This year marked the 21st time Singapore has participated.

This year's at-sea phase included complex scenarios with ships, submarines and aircraft, an exercise with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and a simulated casualty medevac flight with RSN ships. Events also included group maneuvers, a gunnery exercise that allowed the ships to track and fire their surface weapons on moving targets, and several submarine familiarization exercises using U.S. and RSN submarines.

"This year we focused a lot on exercising complex group maneuvers as well as finding and tracking one another's assets through sonar systems," said Cmdr. Robert Francis, Lassen's commanding officer. "That was important because the exercises increased our interoperability by allowing us to work together and gain better understanding of each other's capability while communicating and working from the same procedures. These are core skills vital to any real-world operation."

In addition to improving communication skills and getting to know one another's systems and procedures, both navies exchanged medical expertise in the event of a humanitarian aid-disaster relief (HA-DR) situation that could require a coordinated response from regional navies.

"Because of the U.S. Navy's presence in Southeast Asia and the close relationship we've developed with the Republic of Singapore Navy, there's a strong possibility we may one day need to operate together on a mission or in a casualty situation," Francis said. "That's why we see HA-DR response skills and operational skills as equally important."

To help foster skills in HA-DR situations, Lassen hosted two Singaporean sailors, one doctor and one emergency medical specialist. The Sailors observed several shipboard medical exercises, one of which included a medevac transport of a simulated casualty.

"We were happy to welcome them (RSN sailors) aboard and let them see just how our emergency responders would react during a casualty," Francis said. "This training could literally be a life saver because now we have an organic asset available in the group with the capability to treat a patient with life threatening injuries. It's just like having a small floating hospital within minutes of Lassen."

More than 700 U.S. Sailors were involved in the underway phase of CARAT Singapore. Lassen was joined by the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Houston (SSN 713), Military Sealift Command replenishment oiler USNS Pecos (T-AO 197), a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, and ships and aircraft from the RSN.

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 Destroyer Squadron 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 multilateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.

NAVSUP FLC Bahrain Tests Off-Ship Bill Pay for Husbanding Services

By Lt. Matthew Lorge, Navy Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center Bahrain

MANAMA, Bahrain (NNS) -- Navy Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Bahrain conducted the first test of Off-Ship Bill Pay (OSBP) procedures for aircraft carrier and cruiser port visits during the week ending July 25 at Khalifa Bin Salman Port, Bahrain.

The new procedures take the responsibility for the ordering and payment of husbanding services, such as tug boats, trash removal, crane support, and fresh water, off of the ship's Supply Department and places it at shore activities. This frees up shipboard personnel for other tasks and provides Navy leaders with more oversight of the husbanding process.

In order to conduct the OSBP test, Code 200, the contracting department of NAVSUP FLC Bahrain, executed a stand-alone husbanding service provider (HSP) contract and issued task orders valued at $672,000 for the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and $124,000 for the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60). While tests have been done on smaller units in the past year, this is the first time an aircraft carrier or cruiser has been tested.

Capt. Sean M. Egge, commanding officer of NAVSUP FLC Bahrain, discussed the importance of the OSBP test and what it means to the fleet.

"The new off-ship bill pay procedures will be a major change from how port visits are conducted fleet wide," said Egge. "Not only will the procedures relieve busy shipboard personnel of the administrative tasks associated with port visit costs, they will provide centralized oversight over the process and ensure the taxpayers are getting the best value for their money."

The new procedures require the ship and vendor to submit their final invoices into inventory, receipt, acceptance and property transfer (iRAPT), a secure web based system for electronic invoicing, receipt, and acceptance. A contracting officer's representative (COR) validates that the two sets of invoices match and submits the accepted invoices for electronic payment by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).

James Cutler, a COR for U.S. Naval Central Command (NAVCENT), explained how the test was being conducted.

"The test is going well so far," said Cutler. "The ships have been doing a great job validating the services they have received via the circle, sign, and date process. Once the port visits are completed, we will review the receipts and ensure they match the final invoices submitted by the vendor."

Upon completion of the tests in the NAVCENT area of responsibility (AOR), along with those in other regions around the world, the next step will be to modify the Navy's existing HSP contracts to allow for payment using this electronic process. This will standardize the way the Navy does business while at the same time making it easier for the vendor to receive payment for services they have provided.

"Executing the test contract for USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Normandy was an important milestone in the off-ship bill payment process" said Salah Hani, a contracting officer at Code 200. "We will review the results of these tests and incorporate any lessons learned into our HSP business processes."

NAVSUP FLC Bahrain has more than 160 military and civilian personnel providing logistics support in the region. The command is one of eight FLCs worldwide in the NAVSUP GLS enterprise.

NAVSUP FLC Bahrain is part of NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), which provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of more than 6,500 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units, and allied forces across all warfare enterprises.

US Navy Increases Cooperation, Enhances Partnership With Timor Leste Defense Forces During CARAT

From Task Force 73 Public Affairs

DILI, Timor Leste (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy and Timor-Leste Defense Force (F-FDTL) will conduct the third Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise in Dili, Timor-Leste, and in the vicinity of Port Hera Naval Base, July 27-28.

CARAT Timor-Leste is part of an annual bilateral exercise series between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of nine partner nations, including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. As a longstanding exercise series in Southeast Asia, CARAT enables regional navies to work together through cooperative training events, exchanges, and symposia.

"CARAT Timor-Leste provides an outstanding venue to broaden our partnership with the Timor-Leste Defense Force based on shared security interests," said Rear Adm. Charlie Williams, commander, Task Force (CTF) 73. "Through our bilateral training and exchanges, our Sailors are working side-by-side with their Timor-Leste counterparts, creating meaningful professional relationships and enhancing cooperation between our navies."

During this year's CARAT exercise, U.S. Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 5 and security personnel assigned to Navy Coastal Riverine Group 1 will conduct civil-engineer exchanges and security training with Timor-Leste defense forces.

CARAT Timor-Leste also includes a community service and outreach project providing an opportunity for U.S. and Timor-Leste defense forces to interact with the local community. Approximately 400 service members from the two militaries will participate in this year's exercise.

CARAT is one aspect of the growing U.S. and Timor-Leste partnership, which has included annual port calls by U.S. Navy ships, visits by senior U.S. Navy and Marine Corps leaders, and ongoing civic action projects by U.S. Navy Seabees deployed to Timor-Leste, over the past decade.

"Both navies benefit from this training," said Lt. Luis Ortega, Timor-Leste desk officer and exercise coordinator for CTF 73. "Together we learn from each other and exchange cultural knowledge and military skillsets, which increases capacity of our forces and allows us to work more efficiently together."

Following CARAT Timor-Leste, additional bilateral phases of CARAT will occur from August through November 2015 with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The exercises will provide a regional venue to develop strong maritime partnerships that contribute to the greater peace and stability of the region.

As U.S. 7th Fleet's executive agent for theater security cooperation in South and Southeast Asia, CTF 73 conducts advanced planning, organizes resources, and directly supports the execution of maritime exercises, such as the bilateral CARAT series, the Naval Engagement Activity with Vietnam, and the multi-lateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training with Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.