GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines (July 2, 2012) - Mr. Harry Thomas Jr., U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines passes through sideboys upon arriving at the opening ceremony for Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Timor-Leste joins the exercise for the first time in 2012. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Stephen Hickok)