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.