U.S. and Brunei commence bilateral maritime exercise CARAT 2020

U.S. military and Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) are partnering in the 26th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) maritime exercise, commencing off the coast of Brunei on 5th October, the US Navy announced.

The 26th anniversary of Exercise CARAT Brunei, the first CARAT to take place this year, symbolizes the longstanding U.S.-Brunei maritime partnership. CARAT expands bilateral and multilateral exercises; ensures maritime security, stability, and prosperity; and highlights the United States’ commitment to the region and to a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Exercise events were planned virtually and will be conducted with COVID-19 mitigation measures in place. Using integrated technology for virtual content generation and collaboration, for example, resulted in a successful planning of a multi-event exercise, with no face-to-face planning required.

Historically, CARAT exercises involve people-to-people interactions and relationships through a variety of professional exchanges and symposia, subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs), and social events. In order to mitigate COVID-19 risks, however, SMEEs will take place online, using both real-time virtual meetings and pre-recorded webinars, for U.S. and Brunei to share best practices. This is an excellent opportunity to safely exercise with our partners in the region in a COVID-constrained environment.

RBAF Joint Forces Headquarters Chief of Staff, Lt. Col. Saifulrizal Bin Abdul Latif, highlighted the first Special Operations Force SMEE milestone during this year’s CARAT, and stressed the importance of continued partnership between the two countries.

The virtual SMEE events will feature a variety of joint training opportunities, to include vessel interdiction and boarding training, U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF) cooperation, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training, riverine security training, replenishment at sea (RAS) best practices, Women Peace & Security symposium, and more. Other virtual exchanges will include maritime domain awareness (MDA), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and anti-terrorism force protection, among other topics.

The at-sea phase will take place in the South China Sea with ships and aircraft from both partner militaries, with events designed to enhance interoperability between the two militaries. During the sea-phase of the exercise, both countries will demonstrate their ability to work together through numerous events including divisional tactics designed to enhance communication as ships sail together in complex maneuvers, a tracking exercise aimed at increasing both navies’ ability to track and pursue targets through the coordinated deployment of surface ships and maritime patrol aircrafts, and search and rescue exercises.

During the virtual opening ceremony, Capt. Ann McCann, Commodore, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, emphasized that the foundation of U.S.-Brunei cooperation and training rests in friendships made during time the two nations spend together.

CARAT, the U.S. Navy’s oldest and longest continually running regional exercise in South and Southeast Asia, strengthens partnerships between regional navies and enhances maritime security cooperation and interoperability throughout the Indo-Pacific. It builds on other engagements in the region, including Pacific Partnership, Maritime Training Activity, and Pacific Griffin. These engagements bring like-minded naval forces together, routinely based on shared values and maritime security interests.

U.S. assets participating in CARAT Brunei include staff from Commander Task Force (CTF) 72, CTF 73, CTF 75, CTF 76, DESRON 7, EOD Mobile Unit Five, USMC III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), Special Operations Command Pacific, the U.S. 7th Fleet Band and a P-8 Poseidon aircraft. Afloat units include the Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport USNS Millinocket (T-EPF 3).

Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group 7/Task Force 76 and DESRON 7 conduct advanced planning, organize resources, and directly support the execution of CARAT and other engagements, on behalf of U.S. 7th Fleet, in support of theatre security cooperation in South and Southeast Asia.

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