USS Fitzgerald docks at Subic.
Photo by Johnny Reblando
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) docked at Alava Pier of former US Ship Repair Facility (SRF), Subic Bay at about 9:00 in the morning Thursday to participate in the 19th Philippines-United States Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise.
The ship’s visit and CARAT highlight the strong historic community and military relations between the Philippines and the United States.
In the US Embassy Information Office advisory, the 19th CARAT is a series of bilateral naval exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
CARAT Philippines began in 1995, and has since occurred in several locations throught the Phillippines, including Cebu (2009), Subic Bay (2010), Puerto Princesa (2011) and most recently General Santos City in Mindanao (2012).
Training events in each CARAT phase are tailored based on available assets and mutual training goals across a broad range of naval capabilities, the advisory stated.
CARAT Philippines 2013 will focus on maritime security operations, maritime domain awareness and information sharing. The exercise will also feature extensive training in diving and salvage operations, jungle warfare and marksmanship, tactical combat casualty care, civil affairs, riverine and boarding team scenarios, sporting events, community service projects and public band concert.
On Friday (June 28), two more supply ships, USNS Washington Chamber and USNS Salvor will arrive in Subic Bay for the offloading of supplies and equipment for CARAT exercise.
