MUARA, Monday 14 November 2016 – A launching ceremony for the 22nd Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Exercise was held this morning at the Nakhoda Hall, Training Centre Royal Brunei Navy, Muara. The event was officiated by Rear Admiral Donald D. Gabrielson, Logistics Group Western Pacific Commander (COMLOGWESPAC) and Commander Task Force 73 (CTF 73).
Present to witness the launching was Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat, RBAF Joint Force Commander and United States Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, His Excellency Ambassador Craig Allen. Also present were senior officers from both sides.
CARAT is a bilateral exercise series between the United States Navy and the armed forces of nine partner nations in South and Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
The CARAT Exercise aims to enhance regional military-to-military cooperation, build friendship and strengthen professional skills among participating forces. As one of the original CARAT partners, Brunei Darussalam, the RBAF in particular, has been part of CARAT since the exercise began in 1995.
LATIHAN TENTERA CARAT BRUNEI-AMERIKA SYARIKAT BERMULA HARI INI
MUARA, Isnin 14 November 2016 – Upacara pelancaran Latihan bersama Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) telah diadakan pagi ini di Dewan Nakhoda, Pusat Latihan Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei, Muara. Upacara tersebut telah dirasmikan oleh Rear Admiral Donald D. Gabrielson, Pemerintah Kumpulan Lojistik Pasifik Barat dan Pemerintah Pasukan Bertindak 73 (Commander Logistics Group Western Pasific and Commander Task Force 73).
Hadir menyaksikan pelancaran itu ialah Brigadier Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat, Pemerintah Angkatan Bersama ABDB dan Duta Besar Amerika Syarikat ke Negara Brunei Darussalam, Tuan Yang Terutama Craig Allen. Turut hadir ialah pegawai-pegawai kanan dari kedua belah pihak.
CARAT merupakan siri latihan dua hala antara Tentera Laut Amerika Syarikat dan angkatan tentera dari sembilan negara rakan kongsi di Asia Selatan dan Asia Tenggara, termasuk Bangladesh, Brunei, Kemboja, Indonesia, Malaysia, Filipina, Singapura, Thailand dan Timor-Leste.
Eksesais CARAT bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kerjasama ketenteraan serantau, membina persahabatan dan mengukuhkan kemahiran profesional di kalangan angkatan tentera yang mengambil bahagian. Sebagai salah satu rakan CARAT, Brunei Darussalam, ABDB khususnya, telah menjadi sebahagian daripada CARAT sejak latihan ini bermula pada tahun 1995.