Asia Pacific Defense Forum Winter 2004

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As a gesture of friendship, Capt. Norulhisyam bin Md Shuib of the Malaysian 8th Royal Ranger Regiment presents a handmade fish trap to U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Timothy T. Armstrong, Commanding Officer, CARAT Landing Force, during a tour of the jungle survival training facility in the Reman Chere Forest Reserve near Sungai Lembing, Malaysia.

Members of the Malaysian Armed Forces and the U.S Navy and Marine Corps gathered at Kuantan Air Base, Malaysia, to open the final phase of CARAT 2003. Royal Malaysian Navy First Adm. Mohd Amdan bin Kurish, Commander, Naval Area 1, was the guest speaker at the opening ceremony.

Royal Malaysian Navy First Adm. Mohd Amdan bin Kurish, Commander, Naval Area 1, addresses participants at the opening ceremony for the Malaysia phase of CARAT.
Photo by PM1 Ken Ochsenreither, USN

First Adm. Amdan told attendees, “Today, the uncertainties of the world situation demand that our armed forces be prepared and ready at all times to protect our own sovereignty. The current global trends seem to demonstrate much emphasis on interdependence and cooperation to achieve better results and heighten sustainability. This kind of exercise provides us with the opportunity to learn from the wide experience that the United States has. As you are all aware, Malaysia, located at one of the centers of the global geopolitical interest points, undoubtedly will have to face greater challenges in our defense responsibilities.”

First Adm. Amdan also noted that planning for the July 2003 CARAT Malaysia phase was an exercise in cooperation. “The man-hours spent on planning do have advantages. The interaction that occurred during the planning stages has greatly enhanced our aim to work together as a team.”

Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Capt. Mohd Yusof bin Sabudin, Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations), Fleet Command Headquarters, presented an overview of the exercise events during the opening ceremony. Those events included testing shipboard systems and equipment capabilities, and conducting amphibious operations, jungle cross training, explosive and ordnance disposal, salvage diving, and flying tactics events. Capt. Yusof emphasized safety as the first priority. “We will be successful if we complete the exercise injury free,” he stressed while pointing out that personal interaction between CARAT participants is a goal, along with operations.

The U.S. forces included the guided missile cruiser USS Vincennes (CG 49), the dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) with its 400-strong Landing Force CARAT, and the rescue and salvage ship USS Safeguard (ARS 50). Air assets included a P-3C Orion anti-submarine and maritime patrol aircraft and a sensor-laden SH-60B Seahawk helicopter. The U.S. Navy’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 5 and specialists from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Joint Interagency Task Force, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service also took part.

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