The CARAT exercise series brings ships and personnel together to share expertise and improve interoperability. Two Philippine Navy officers, Ens. Arnulfo Tintero and Lt. j.g. Ronaldo Landingin, observe U.S. Navy SA Patrine Thom and BM3 Michael Eyanagho on board the dock landing ship USS Germantown (LSD 42). Photo by Lt. Jane Tyler, USNR

The U.S. Army veterinarians provided rabies shots, vitamins and medication to protect local dogs and cats from fleas and ticks. "We vaccinated these animals against diseases they could die from," said Hawaii-based Spec. Anthony B. Klagenberg.

Dentists from the Philippine Navy and the Naic Rural Health Unit worked side by side with U.S. Navy dental teams from USS Germantown (LSD 42) and III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan. "This is a great help to us and the people here," said Dr. Arian M. Pozas, a Philippines public health dentist. She noted that it’s costly to have a tooth pulled in the Philippines, since most rural residents can’t afford the equivalent of almost U.S. $5.00.

The Philippine-U.S. medical team saw approximately 1,000 Lubac patients by the first day’s end. Based on doctors’ orders, corpsmen gave out cough medicine, pain medication, vitamins and skin fungus cream from a makeshift pharmacy in a classroom.

While these civic action programs were going on in the barangay, Republic of the Philippines Marines were in the field with approximately 400 U.S. Marines from Landing Force CARAT to conduct combined training. The training began with classroom lectures and infantry demonstrations such as patrolling and reacting to sniper fire. The two nations’ Marine Corps took turns demonstrating how they would handle different situations.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for two great Marine Corps to get together and share knowledge," said Col. Ben Corona, Commanding Officer, Combat Service Support Brigade, Philippine Marine Corps.

"They [Philippine Marine Corps] are very professional, well-disciplined and very enthusiastic about learning," said Capt. John Hatala, USMC Commanding Officer, Kilo Company, Landing Force CARAT. "They have a lot of [combat] experience," he said. "The U.S. Marines got a few new ideas on taking out bunkers, tunneling, and crossing danger areas. They have some good techniques," he added.

The next two days brought the two Marine Corps together for some live-fire exercises. Training included firing 81mm mortars, making and applying shaped charges, clearing a building in an urban setting, and engaging an enemy while patrolling. "I had a lot of fun blowing up things," said Sgt. Jade Dalloran, a Philippine Force Reconnaissance Marine, who spent the day with the Combat Engineers Platoon using shaped charges. "I [would] like to train with them [U.S. Marines] again."

Philippine and U.S. Marines and sailors carried out a combined amphibious assault on a beach in Ternate to culminate Marine training in CARAT 2000. "This was truly a combined effort," asserted U.S. Marine Lt. Col. James Seaton, Commanding Officer, Landing Force CARAT. "At a senior level, we worked together closely on planning and preparing a 24-hour operation that included amphibious operations and two night attacks."

After operations, the Marines spent time together at a sports day. They competed against each other in basketball, volleyball, tug-of-war and 100-meter relay racing. They also shared favorite foods at a barbecue that included American hamburgers and hotdogs and Philippine favorites like roasted pig and chicken on a stick.