MUARA, Friday, 18 November 2016 - The 22nd series of Exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2016 in Brunei Darussalam ended with a closing ceremony that took place at the Nahkoda Ragam Hall, Naval Training Centre (NTC) in Muara.
Present as the Guest of Honour was Chief of Staff, Joint Force Headquarter Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Captain Hj Yusof bin Masron, Royal Brunei Navy (RBN).
Also present were Commander Task Group (CTG), Deputy Commander of Destroyer Squadron 7’s (DESRON 7) Captain Lex Walker, Deputy Commander Task Group (DCTG), Commanding Officer KDB DARUSSALAM Commander Hj Nor Ariwwin bin Hj Md Ali, Officers from Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and United States Navy (US Navy), as well as officers from other relevant law enforcement agencies.
The RBAF and US Navy make use of the CARAT exercise to enhance cooperative efforts in addressing shared security concerns. This include among other trainings for maritime security tasks, communication procedures, amphibious operations, and Helo MEDEVAC procedures. The CARAT exercise also poses an important platform for military officers and personnel from both countries to exchange knowledge and experience toward further increasing interoperability.
During the five-days of CARAT joint exercise, both Armed Forces optimized the opportunities to strengthen the relationships between two countries by allowing greater interaction through joint military training.
Several public symposiums were held covering Military Operations, Public Affairs and Public Health and Disease Prevention as well as Interaction Programme between RBAF and US Navy. Community service projects such as joint band performance from the RBN and 7th Fleet Band US Navy conducted at The Times Square, Brunei Shell Recreation Club (BSRC), International School Brunei (ISB) and Jerudong Playground amusement park were also side-lined. Another addition to this years’ programme is the Women Leadership Discussion Programme which includes sharing and exchange of ideas and experience between women officers in different fields of expertise between the two countries.
CARAT is a series of annual maritime exercises between the US Navy, US Marine Corps and the Armed Forces of nine partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.
