RP to host naval exercise with US

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippines will host this year’s 15th Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Exercise between the naval forces of the Philippines and the United States.

CARAT, which will be held on May 21 to 28, is aimed at building regional assistance capacity for multinational maritime operations.

CARAT is an annual bilateral exercise that embodies the spirit of the longstanding cooperative relationship between the Philippine Navy and the United States Navy.

Its ultimate goal is to strengthen cooperation between the Navy forces of the two countries in deterring intercontinental and trans-border crimes, piracy and maritime terrorism, which are said to be growing concerns of the global community.

PN Naval Forces Central Public Affairs Officer Judyline Cañoneo said this year’s exercise will incorporate on-deck and at-sea trainings, naval tactical exercises, patrol and surveillance exercise and gunnery exercise.

There will also be series of symposia that will tackle military operations and law and a subject matter expert exchange between the PN and US Navy sailors and marines, including a joint amphibious landing of the fleet-marine forces of both forces.

Cañoneo said humanitarian projects will also be a highlight of the exercise, which will be undertaken through community service activities, engineering projects and various free medical and dental service clinics.

Participating ships and units of PN include Dagupan City LCC-551, Carlos Albert Patrol Gunboat 375, Bienvenido Salting Patrol Gunboat 112, Naval Special Operations Unit-5, Naval Air Unit Central’s Philippine Navy Islander 320 and the members of the Philippine Marine Corps.

Four US Navy Ships and members of the US Marine Corps will also join the exercise. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO (THE FREEMAN)