U.S., Sri Lanka Partner for First Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Exercise

U.S. Navy Sailors, assigned to various Navy Expeditionary Combat Commands, and Sri Lankan Navy personnel pose for a photo during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Sri Lanka 2017 in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Oct. 2, 2017. CARAT is a series of annual maritime exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

CARAT Sri Lanka 2017

(TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka) U.S. Navy Sailors, assigned to various Navy Expeditionary Combat Commands, and Sri Lankan Navy personnel pose for a photo during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Sri Lanka 2017 in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Oct. 2, 2017. CARAT is a series of annual maritime exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 2nd Class Josh Wilborn, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, demonstrates the use of a Seabotix remote operated vehicle (ROV) to Sri Lankan Navy personnel during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Sri Lanka 2017 in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Oct. 2, 2017. CARAT is a series of annual maritime exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

CARAT Sri Lanka 2017

(TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka) U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 2nd Class Josh Wilborn, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 5, demonstrates the use of a Seabotix remote operated vehicle (ROV) to Sri Lankan Navy personnel during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Sri Lanka 2017 in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Oct. 2, 2017. CARAT is a series of annual maritime exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

U.S. Navy Electronics Technician 1st Class Christian Newsom, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 1, explains the use of an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) to Sri Lankan Navy personnel during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Sri Lanka 2017 in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Oct. 2, 2017. CARAT is a series of annual maritime exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

CARAT Sri Lanka 2017

(TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka) U.S. Navy Electronics Technician 1st Class Christian Newsom, assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 1, explains the use of an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) to Sri Lankan Navy personnel during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Sri Lanka 2017 in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Oct. 2, 2017. CARAT is a series of annual maritime exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

CARAT SRI LANKA

U.S. Marines and Sri Lankan Marines conduct Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) drills during the first-ever bilateral Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise at the Naval Base in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Oct. 2, 2017. CARAT is an annual, bilateral maritime exercise series designed to boost interoperability between partner nations which contributes to regional security and stability by sharing best practices and cooperation in response to shared maritime security challenges. The platoon of U.S. Marines participating in the week-long exercise are a part of the Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Pacific (FASTPAC) based in Yokosuka, Japan. (U.S. Navy Combat Camera photo by Information Systems Technician 1st Class Gregory L. Parker)

CARAT SRI LANKA

By Lt. Amy Forsythe, Commander, Task Force 75 Public Affairs / Published Oct. 2, 2017

TRINCOMALEE, Sri Lanka - U.S. and Sri Lankan maritime forces will work together for the first– ever Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise with the arrival of U.S. Navy elements in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Oct. 1, 2017.

CARAT Sri Lanka 2017 is part of a series of bilateral CARAT military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Thailand. The focus of CARAT is developing maritime security capabilities and increasing interoperability among participants. Skill areas exercised during the CARAT include small boat operations, evidence collection, diving procedures and antiterrorism security.

“The U.S. Navy is pleased to add Sri Lanka to our list of CARAT partners in 2017 as part of our larger efforts to expand both bilateral and multilateral maritime security engagement across the Indo-Asia- Pacific region,” said Commodore Robert Baughman, Commander, Task Force-75.

CARAT is entering its 23rd year and Sri Lanka is among the newest CARAT partner nations, demonstrating that our shared common goals and partnership during various partnered training is a valuable way to build lasting relationships. Training exchanges will be conducted on the Sri Lankan Navy base in Trincomalee from Oct. 2-6, 2017.

The week-long exercise is designed to enhance maritime security skills and operations cohesiveness among participating forces, it also focuses on relationship building between military participants through sports and social events.

U.S. Navy assets participating CARAT Sri Lanka 2017 include Commander, Task Group 75.5, Coastal Riverine Group 1, Underwater Construction Team 2 and U.S. Marines with Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team Pacific.