By Ines B. Tagacay
THE ANNUAL Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise ended successfully on June 3, 2008 in Puerto Princesa at the headquarters of the Naval Forces West (Navforwest).
“The CARAT Philippine phase was successful because both our military forces cooperated on many levels at sea. We’re able to train our people, not only the Philippine Navy members but also our U.S. counterparts. Besides, most of our U.S. counterparts were able to learn about the culture of the Palaweños. We were able to provide some other engineering services, particularly classroom and some medical support to our local residents,” said Rear Adm. Petronilo Magno, commander of the Philippine Navy fleet and guest of honor during the closing ceremony.
Magno said ensuring freedom of the seas by increasing maritime security efforts in the region is a primary focus of the CARAT exercise. He added tha this year the CARAT mission included enhancing regional cooperation, increasing interoperability and building friendships between the United States and six ASEAN nations-Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei as one good reason why the conduct of the CARAT exercise.
Both the Philippines and U.S navies used the Combined Enterprise Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS) to communicate quickly and effectively at sea levels. CENTRIXS played a major part during the at-sea phases and a real-time communications capability that gave commanders a comprehensive tactical picture.
CARAT exercise involves U.S Navy, Philippine Navy, U.S Coast Guard, and Philippine Coast Guard, some elements of Philippine Air Force, U.S Navy Seabees and U.S Marines.
Eight ships from the U.S and Armed Forces of the Philippines took part in the exercise. U.S. ships that participated are dock landing ship USS Ford (FFG 54); USS Jarrett (FFG 33); USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC 722).
Philippine CARAT assets included patrol ships BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS 37); BRP Nicolas Mahusay (PG 116); BRP Bony Serrano (PG 111) and BRP Pampanga.
Air assets P-3 Orion from US and Philippine Navy islander aircraft were also involved in the exercise.
“Sa part ng mga sundalo natin sa Philippine Navy, na-improve iyong kanilang skills in different aspect ng naval operations, border search, maritime interdiction, marine operations and of course, na-expose sila sa mga bagong equipment ng US Armed Forces. Napakalaking tulong ito sana muling maulit dito sa Palawan,” Naval Forces West Commodore Ramon Espera noted.
U.S and Philippine Navy doctors, dentists, veterinarians, nurses and corpsmen provided medical, dental, veterinary care for villagers and engineering works. Some Palaweños had the opportunity to benefit from this Filipino-American teamwork. A total of 1,222 people availed medical care; 90 circumcisions; 78 deworming; 498 tooth extraction; 10 cyst removal and 191 in veterinary cases undertakings in Aborlan, Palawan. On the engineering side Philippine and U.S military engineers completed engineering projects including 3 new classrooms were also donated at Panacan Elementary School in Narra, Palawan.
Philippine and US navy men also visited schools and community centers; donated dental health and hygiene, sports equipment, wheelchairs and others. These are part of the Community Relations (COMREL) projects. Some of the COMREL projects were held at West Central School, Share a Life Center, Bahay ni Nanay, Mauricio Reynoso Memorial Elementary School and Puerto Princesa Pilot Elementary School.
In an interview with Lt. Robert Kufle, CTF-73 US Navy, he believes that in the end, building relationships between two navies are one of the most important outcomes of the exercise. He said the annual exercise exchange embodies the spirit of the longstanding cooperative relationship between the United States and Armed Forces of the Philippines.
