Philippine Marines 1st Brigade commander, the decorated Col. Ramiro Alivio with Lt. Col. Imelda Dalupang receive and exchange plaques and mementos with United States Navy Capt. Michael McNamara in Basilan island, where Filipino and American troops are participating in a joint amphibious training called CARAT 2007.
CARAT, a regularly scheduled series of bilateral military training exercises with several Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) countries, is designed to enhance interoperability of the U.S. sea services, and those of friends and allies throughout the region in a variety of mission areas of mutual benefit.
The CARAT task group is made up of the guided-missile cruiser USS Vincennes (CG 49), dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), guided-missile frigate USS Curts (FFG 38), rescue and salvage ship USS Safeguard (ARS 50) and the 400-strong MAGTF, Landing Force Carat, embarked in the task group.
During the various phases of CARAT, which include exercises with the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei, Singapore and Malaysia, training is scheduled in skill areas such as at-sea maneuvering and communications, command and control, diving and salvage, and amphibious operations.
The specific focus of training and the specific CARAT task group elements participating in each exercise phase will vary based on training goals.
A variety of seminars are also scheduled, as are social events that give exercise participants a chance to develop personal relationships so critical to combined operations. Sailors and Marines take time during each CARAT phase to participate in civil affairs, medical and community service projects.
A joint medical, dental, veterinary and engineering civic action program was conducted in the villages of Kaumpurnah and Lower Mahayahay in Basilan this week.
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