BANGLADESH AND US NAVY JOINT EXERCISE COOPERATION AFLOAT RADINESS AND TRAINING (CARAT) TERMINATED IN CHITTAGONG NAVAL AREA

Transcription

1 BANGLADESH AND US NAVY JOINT EXERCISE COOPERATION AFLOAT RADINESS AND TRAINING (CARAT) TERMINATED IN CHITTAGONG NAVAL AREA The joint exercise between Bangladesh and US Navy Exercise Co-Operation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT-2015) was formally terminated on Sunday through a colorful Closing Ceremony at Chittagong Naval Area. On the occasion of the Closing Ceremony Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) Rear Admiral Aurangzeb Chowdhury, (G), NBP, ndc, psc graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and the Ambassador of US to Bangladesh, HE. Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat was present as the Special Guest. Among the invited guests Naval Area Commanders of Chittagong, representatives of AFD, all the US and Bangladesh Navy participants, delegates from US Embassy and other senior civil and military dignitaries were present. The entire exercise was conducted under the overall supervision of Commodore Commanding BN Flotilla Commodore Khaled Iqbal, ndc, psc. A good number of Bangladesh Navy ships and aircrafts namely BNS BANGABANDHU, SAMUDRA JOY, ABU BAKR, DHALESHWARI, BIJOY, DURJOY, SHAH JALAL, BNT KHADEM, BN MPA and BN SWADS took part in the exercise. On the other hand USS FORT WORTH, USNS SAFEGUARD, Organic Helicopter MH-60R, P-3C MPA, Medical team, Special Forces and other specialized units from US Navy joined the exercise. There have been also a number of seminars on Aviation, Surface Warfare and medical related topics. Through Ex-CARAT both the Navies could achieve the shared maritime security goal in the field of counter-piracy, counter-terrorism, maritime interception operations, etc. It also helped to learn the best practices in Search and Rescue at sea and Maritime Law. US MPA P-3C arranged static display for the personnel and family members of BN, BAF and children from BN schools. The US delegation also provided community service to the mentally and physically challenged children of BN Ashar Alo School. The exercise was aimed to strengthen and enhance current USN and BN Capability in naval operations and it was achieved with high training value. This exercise will help both the navies to increase interoperability and understanding between the officers and personnel. It is also expected that the bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and US will be further strengthened through this joint exercise. After successful completion of various events USS FORT WORTH, USNS SAFEGUARD, MH-60R, P-3C and other Specialized Units are expected to leave Bangladesh.

2 Readiness and Tranining (CARAT) Coopertion Afloat USS FORT WORTH, USNS SAFEGUARD, P-3C, MH-60R, Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One, P-3C

3 BANGLADESH AND US NAVY JOINT EXERCISE COOPERATION AFLOAT READINESS AND TRAINING (CARAT) The Fifth annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)-2015 exercise between Bangladesh and US Navy has started at Chittagong Naval area. The main objectives of this exercise are to enhance regional cooperation, building friendship and strengthening professional skills between Bangladesh and US Navy. In this regards a press briefing was held at Naval Headquarters Banani, Dhaka on Tuesday 29 Sep The US Navy Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific and Commander, Task Force -73, Rear Admiral Charles Williams briefed about the exercise. Prior to the press briefing, US Admiral made a courtesy call on with the Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral M Farid Habib, NBP, ndc, psc. There will be two Phases in this exercise. Shore Phase will be held from 29 September to 04 October in which, number of bilateral exercises and training packages will be conducted. On the other hand, during Sea Exercise phase ships of Bangladesh Navy and US Navy will participate in joint exercises in the Bay of Bengal from 30 September to 02 October Five-days long exercise which begins tomorrow includes search and rescue operations at sea, disaster management, emergency medical treatment, appropriate implementation of military law and special training on Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Helicopter operations. The major US units that are going to take part in the exercise are USS FORT WORTH, USNS SAFEGUARD, Organic Helicopter MH-60R, P-3C MPA and Special Forces Units. On the other hand, Bangladesh Navy warship BANGABANDHU, SOMUDRA JOY, ABU BAKR, BIJOY, DHALESHAWARY, SHAH JALAL and BNT KHADEM, Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and special force SWADS are also taking part in the exercise. This joint exercise will formally end on 04 October This joint exercise will improve the professional knowledge and skills of the members of Bangladesh Navy as well as it will strengthen the existing bilateral relation and co-operation between two friendly navies. The CARAT exercise series has been regularly conducted amongst the US Navy and the Armed Forces of nine partner nations in South and Southeast Asia that includes Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. Bangladesh stands out as the only South Asian nation in the CARAT series and taking part in the exercise since 2011 and continues to make steady progress each year.

4 হয় য় Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)-2015 Exercise (Shore Phase) (Sea Phase) USS FORT WORTH, USNS SAFEGUARD, P-3C MH-60R

5 BANGLADESH AND US NAVY JOINT EXERCISE COOPERATION AFLOAT READINESS AND TRAINING (CARAT) INAUGURATED IN CHITTAGONG NAVAL AREA A five days long joint exercise namely Exercise Co-Operation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT)-2015 between Bangladesh Navy and US Navy was formally inaugurated in The School of Maritime Warfare & Tactics at Chittagong Naval Area. Ex-CARAT is the biggest bilateral program with a series of naval exercises between Bangladesh and US Navy. US Navy generally conducts such exercise with other developed Navies of the world. Bangladesh Navy is participating in such exercise for the 5 th consecutive time, which is an age demanding and modern warfare exercise. There will be two phases in this exercise. Shore Phase will be held from 29 September to 04 October in which, significant bilateral exercise and training will be conducted. On the other hand, the ships of Bangladesh Navy and US Navy will participate in Sea Exercise in the Bay of Bengal from 30 September to 02 October With the aim to improve present bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and US, the objectives of this exercise are to assess, strengthen and enhance interoperability between US and Bangladesh Navy in naval operations through both theoretical and practical training. Besides, the exercise also offers opportunity of practical training on special operation with others. The premier maritime exercise will be conducted under the supervision of The Commodore Commanding BN Flotilla (COMBAN). The major US units that are going to take part in the exercise are USS FORT WORTH, USNS SAFEGUARD, Organic Helicopter MH-60R, P-3C MPA and Special Forces Units. On the other hand, BNS BANGABANDHU, SAMUDRA JOY, ABU BAKR, DHALESHWARI, BIJOY, DURJOY, SHAH JALAL, BNT KHADEM, BN MPA and BN SWADS are also taking part in the EX CARAT CASEX, AAROF, FIREX, NIGHT FLYING & Deck landing, SURFACE TRACKING EXERCISE, RAS, VERTREP, ANTI PIRACY EXERCISE will be conducted in the exercise. Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific (CLWP) and Commander Task Force 73 (CTF-73) of US Navy Rear Admiral Charles Williams, has graced the Opening Ceremony as the Chief Guest while Commander Chittagong Naval Area, Rear Admiral Akhtar Habib, (ND), NGP, ndc, ncc, psc was present as the Special Guest. The chief guest and special guest were received by Commodore Commanding BN Flotilla Commodore M Khaled Iqbal, (ND), ndc, psc other Area Commanders of Chittagong Naval Area, representatives of AFD and NHQ, nominated personnel of USN, BN and sister services and other dignitaries also attended the ceremony.

6 Readiness and Tranining (CARAT)-2015 Exercise Coopertion Afloat (Shore Phase) (Sea Phase) P-3C USS FORT WORTH J USNS SAFEGUARD, ORGANIC HELICOPTER MH-60R, RAS, VERTREP