Multinational naval exercises welcome in Southeast Asia.

• Author: Tiron, Roxana

In an effort to increase force interoperability and security in Southeast Asia, the U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet participates in a series of hi-lateral exercises with other navies in the region. The planner behind some of these exercises is the Logistics Group, Western Pacific.

Apart from providing logistics support for the 7th Fleet's operational area of 51 million square miles of water, the command's second hat is to facilitate two yearly exercises-called CARAT (cooperation afloat readiness and training) and SEACAT (Southeast Asia cooperation against terrorism). Participants include Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

"We exercise with nations as they want to work with us," said Rear Adm. Kevin Quinn, commander of Comlog Westpac. "For the most part, they really like working with the U.S. Navy."

This year's CARAT started at the beginning of June and will finish in August, as the U.S. Navy cycles through with all participants, said Quinn.

The focus is regional maritime security, a Pacific Command initiative aimed at allowing the various navies to communicate more effectively.

"The whole purpose of this exercise is so that we can help interdict the bad guys that would use the seas for moving weapons of mass destruction aboard ships, moving terrorist operatives or equipment, trafficking of drugs, and other illicit cargos and, very important in this part of the world, piracy," said Quinn.

Traditionally, CARAT includes classic naval exercises, such as maneuvering in formation, anti-surface warfare and firing training. "We shoot at remotely piloted targets," he said. "We also will do some anti-sub warfare exercises and anti-air exercises."

Accompanying these exercises are training lectures in port where sailors learn everything from shipboard damage control, diving and salvage training to public affairs and shipboard security, said Quinn.

"There also is a big ashore phase where we do community relations projects," said Quinn. Some of these projects include fixing up schools and providing healthcare for locals.

The participating navies show a high level of interest. "Each of them varies in their level and the size and complexity," he said. "The vast majority, in fact in every case, wants lectures on things like damage control and force protection. They want to do that full range of exercises, mine warfare, surface and sub-surface air defense. They want to go out and maneuver their ships with our ships and practice those...