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Philippine aviators listen as U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Ken Durbin shares his experiences in a SH-60 Seahawk helicopter. PHOTO BY PH1 KIM MCLENDON, USNR

A 35-year veteran Seabee in the Philippine Navy said he’s grateful for the CARAT exchange that exposes his team of 30 to modern techniques and equipment. "Filipinos are innovative. Even if they don’t have modern tools and equipment, they can do the work because of their innovations. We can teach that," said Philippine Seabee Builder Chief Reynoldo Morales, who studied in the United States with some of his U.S. counterparts.

Several U.S. Marines, sailors, and Coast Guardsmen took time out of the exercise to repair the roof of the Special Education Center for the Gifted, on a former U.S. naval base in Subic Bay, and visit with some of the 300 students. While Marine construction teams repaired the leaking roof, others spent time in classrooms. The Americans taught English, read books, and worked on science experiments.