A Philippine sailor receives a mock weapon used for training from a U.S. Coast Guardsman as other Philippine sailors watch during a visit, board, search and seizure exercise on the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mellon (WHEC 717). Photo by PH2 Laura Heinkel, USNR

Commenting on the activity aboard the USS Fort McHenry, Capt. Little said, “The CARAT Task Group had the honor to welcome aboard Philippine Navy sailors and officers who not only had the chance to observe up close the joint tactical free play, but also the opportunity to share ideas [with their U.S. Navy counterparts] on a personal level which [was] the key to CARAT’s success.”

The local community had the opportunity to meet U.S. sailors during shipboard tours.  Hundreds of family members, schoolchildren, grandparents, government officials, and the press toured the U.S. Navy warships and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mellon (WHEC 717). “Many left with an appreciation and better understanding of not only U.S. naval assets, but also the skill and diversity of the crews that run and operate our ships,” noted Capt. Little.

Dive Training
Combined training aboard the USS Salvor (ARS 52) included, dive training, salvage operations, self-contained underwater breathing apparatus surface checks, and a dive symposium. The training also included how to use beach gear to rescue stranded vessels and how the ship’s heavy lifting capability can salvage debris from the ocean depths.

Visit, Board, Search and Seizure Exercise
U.S. Coast Guard personnel aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mellon (WHEC 717) shared their boarding procedures with Philippine Navy and Coast Guard personnel during a visit, board, search and seizure exercise. “The Philippine Navy and Coast Guard are involved in real-world issues specific to this area, such as fisheries incursions, piracy, and terrorism,” said U.S. Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Robb Roble.  “It’s important that we exchange knowledge. If they see something that we do that could be helpful, they can incorporate it into their procedures and vice versa,” he added.

Safety is a global concern when boarding suspicious vessels. It’s important to be aware of tactics used by smugglers, pirates, and terrorists, said Lt. j.g. Roble. That’s why a safety team is first to board an errant vessel. “We send a safety team in first to assess the risks. The team goes through areas that could be dangerous to our crews,” said Lt. j.g. Roble. “For instance, it’s important to go down below and pickup deck plates in engineering spaces to make sure there’s no water coming in. Smugglers have been known to sink their own ships.”