MUARA, Friday 10 Aug 2007 - Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2007 exercise ends today with a Closing Ceremony onboard USS JARRET. The targeted outcome of this year exercise (enhancement of cooperation and security capabilities, promoting joint situational awareness, information sharing and increase interoperability between Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and U.S Navy) have been achieved by both parties. Present during the Closing Ceremony were Colonel Jofri bin Hj Abdullah Director of Operations at The Ministry of Defence, Commander Eric R.Kyle Commander of Task Force 73, and Commanding Officers of the combined task force ships.

The US Navy assets (USS JARRET equipped with HSL Det along with CTF 72 Orion aircrafts) together with RBAF assets (KDB Waspada, KDB Pejuang, KDB Perwira, Blackhawk S70, Bell 212 and Bolkow BO105) yesterday have successfully conducted a one day sea phase exercise. The exercise includes Divisional Tatical, Photoex, Deck Landing Qualification, Boarding, Critical Contact of Interest Tracking and Search & Rescue off the coast of Brunei Darussalam.

Throughout the week, they have successfully conducted symposiums on Legal, Crime Scene Investigation, Visit Board Search and Seizure, Humanitarian Assistance / Disaster Relief, Diving, Aviation and Homeland Security which were attended by RBAF personnel including personnel from other government agencies such as Royal Brunei Police Force, Fisheries Department, Customs & Excise Department and National Disaster Management Center.

CARAT is a series of bilateral military training exercises held annually between U.S Navy and several ASIAN nations. Brunei Darussalam is the fifth phase of 2007 series following Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Philippines. The first of such bilateral exercise was held in 1995. Similar exersice will be conducted around the same time next year.