Photo By Chief Petty Officer Rosalie Chang | 160805-N-DH124-049 DILI, Timor-Leste (Aug. 5, 2016) - Capt. Erich Diehl, commodore,...... read more read more
U.S. Navy units from Commander, Task Force 75, U.S. Marines, and Forsa Defesa Timor-Leste (F-FDTL) service members completed the 4th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Timor-Leste with a closing ceremony at Port Hera Naval Base, Aug. 5.
During the weeklong exercise, U.S. Navy Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4, Sailors from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, Riverine Sailors from Coastal Riverine Group (CRG) 1, and U.S. Marines from Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team Pacific (FASTPAC), worked together with the F-FDTL to enhance their defensive and maritime security operation capabilities through training and mission planning, maritime evidence collection, unit level command and control, infantry skills, staff planning and small boat engine maintenance and repair.
“To all the warriors standing before me, congratulations on the initiative demonstrated, the toughness and the achievements you accomplished this week,” said Capt. Erich Diehl, commodore, Commander Task Force 75. “These engagements are extremely important in delivering our common vision of advancing Indo-Asia Pacific Regional Maritime security, enhancing stability and enduring international framework of norms, standards and rules of laws.”
The FASTPAC Marines trained the F-FDTL on vehicle and entry control point procedures, close quarters battle tactics, convoy tactics and basic lifesaving skills.
“We integrated simulator munitions so they could get a feel for conducting convoys while we simulated an ambush. We saw their response from the beginning to the end,” said U.S. Marine Cpl. Mitch Wagner. “After we coached them through the events, we could see their improvements and by the end their actions were where we wanted them to be; they picked up everything we taught them so well and so fast.”
Although the language barrier was tough, the forces were able to overcome the difficulty with interpreters, using hand and arm signals and drawing out the information.
“Working with the F-FDTL has been a great experience not only for them but for our U.S. forces as well,” said Krestos. “We’ve learned a tremendous amount from them including what challenges they face and how we can continue to provide our assistance in helping them grow within their capabilities and their military forces. They have been extremely enthusiastic and welcoming so we look forward to future exercises with them.”
The skills learned throughout CARAT were all flexed during a final exercise that brought together all of the different areas of expertise into one operation.
“Every element of hands-on training the F-FDTL participated in this past week was completed in the final exercise,” said Krestos. “It was built to provide the members with as close to a real world scenario that they may face such as combating illegal fishing and trafficking. With this exercise, they demonstrated those capabilities and they now have the knowledge to be able to deter those activities.”
CARAT is a series of bilateral naval exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste. CARAT 2016 is the most complex series to date. Its continuing relevance for more than two decades speaks to the high quality of exercise events and the enduring value of regional cooperation among allies and partners in South and Southeast Asia.
| Date Taken: | 08.05.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 08.09.2016 22:53 |
| Story ID: | 206619 |
| Location: | TL |
| Web Views: | 598 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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