Muara Naval Base, Monday 14th November 2016– The 22nd annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) joint exercise between Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and the United States Navy (USN) was activated this morning by Rear Admiral Donald Gabrielson, Commander of the Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOGWESPAC), Task Force 73 (CTF 73).
Present to witness the launching was Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat, RBAF Joint Force Commander and United States Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, His Excellency Craig Allen. Also present were senior officers from RBAF and senior commanding officers of the combined task force ships from Brunei Darussalam and United States.
The launching ceremony was held at the Nakhoda Hall, Naval Training Centre (NTC), Muara Naval Base, Muara. The COMLOG WESPAC also made a courtesy call to the Commander of RBN, First Admiral Pg Dato Seri Pahlawan Norazmi bin Pg Haji Muhammad, where both have expressed appreciation for strengthening and nourishing the relation between the two navies and looking forward for further bilateral defence cooperation through field exercise and training.
The CARAT Exercise aims to enhance regional cooperation, and to strengthen our ties and professional skills among participating forces. This exercise will be participated by personnel and assets from all three services – the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF), Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) and Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), as well as other relevant law enforcement agencies such as Royal Brunei Police Force, Fisheries Department, and, Customs and Excise Department.
The Commander Task Group (CTG) for this exercise is CAPT Lex Walker, Deputy Commander of Destroyer Squadron 7’s (DESRON 7) from US Navy while the Deputy Commander Task Group (DCTG) is CDR Hj Nor Ariwwin bin Hj Md Ali from Royal Brunei Navy.
During the CARAT exercise, a diverse range of at-sea, air and ashore exercise events have been planned which include Military Operations Urban Terrain (MOUT) and Aviation Search and Rescue (SAR) Training. Among the symposium to be held are Military and International Law Operations Symposium (MILOPS), Public Health and Disease Prevention Symposium, and, Public Affairs.
Interaction programmes such as Sports Day, Women Leadership Interaction and joint band performances between both forces (COMREL) will also take place during the week-long joint exercise.
After more than two decades of annual CARAT training engagements between U.S Navy and RBAF, the exercise reflects the maturity of regional defence cooperation between the two nations.
