SANDAKAN, Aug 18 – For the first time, training with the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and US Navy (USN) through Joint Exercise Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2015 held in the waters off Sabah. Chief of Staff Joint Force Headquarters Maj Gen Datuk Kamarulzaman Mohd Othman said the waters Sandakan and Lahad Datu selected for a 12-day exercise, which began last August 10 involving 600 members and 350 member USN ATM.
“The waters Sandakan and Lahad Datu selected for CARAT exercise times to the 21 because it has a deep and broad waters and long beaches. CARAT exercises was aimed at enhancing the capacity and mutual assistance in the planning and execution of joint and combined operations between the two armed forces,” he told reporters after officiating the opening of the CARAT 2015 in KD Sri Sandakan, Royal Malaysian Navy base here Monday.
Also present, Commanding Officer of the Task Force 73 USN Rear Admiral Charles Williams. Williams said increased military cooperation witnessed today demonstrate the maturity of the relationship between the two navies and exercises participants will exchange their best practices in a series of military seminar.
He said that after more than two decades of implementation of CARAT exercise between Malaysia and the United States, the war training remains a model of cooperation has changed in terms of complexity and enable both countries to refine maritime operations and tactics.
“CARAT is a practical method for both navies to work together to confront maritime security priorities within a realistic training environment. Partnerships are important in the region, lasting partnership is more important,” he said. This exercise includes operations in the sea, river training, protection training, explosive ordnance disposal, community projects, civil engineering and amphibious landings.
Kamarulzaman said the civil engineering community project involves the construction of a building at the National School of Gas. He said among the assets used ATM and USN to exercise this ship musk KD, KD Kedah, USS Germantown, USS Fort Worth, Hawk aircraft of the Royal Malaysian Air Force and P3C Orion.
