Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, commander, Task Force 73 and Logistics Group Western Pacific, walks with Adm. Soopakorn Booranadiloak, Royal Thai Navy Fleet Commander, as she thanks Royal Thai Navy officers for their participation in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2010 following the exercise's closing ceremony. CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises held annually in Southeast Asia to strengthen relationships and enhance force readiness. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Eric J. Cutright

The ceremony featured a series of performances by Royal Thai Navy (RTN) bands and a silent drill team, followed by remarks from RTN Assistant Commander-in-Chief Adm. Thana Boonnark and Rear Adm. Nora Tyson, commander, Task Force 73.

Tyson said this year’s bilateral U.S.-Thai exercises will feature some new aspects.

“This year, we’ll also include new areas of training, like riverine and anti-submarine warfare, and unmanned aerial vehicle operations,” Tyson said.  “The addition of these new specialties is proof that CARAT is adaptable and flexible and can meet emerging threats.”

Rear Adm. Sundaranaga Chaiyot, commander, RTN Frigate Squadron 2, described CARAT as the premier exercise for U.S. and RTN forces’ improved interoperability. 

In addition to the military training aspects, many community service projects have been planned in surrounding areas. These include medical and dental civic action projects and an engineering civic action project (ENCAP). For the ENCAP, Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 11 Seabees will work with Royal Thai Marines to construct a new classroom building for a remote primary school.

Units participating in CARAT Thailand include USS Tortuga (LSD 46) with embarked Marine landing force, USS Lassen (DDG 82), USS Vandegrift (FFG 48), USS Buffalo (SSN 715) and USCGC Mellon (WHEC 717), along with nearly a dozen units with expertise in diving, riverine warfare, mine warfare and port security. 

For more information on the exercise, visit the CARAT Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Exercise.CARAT All material posted on the CARAT Web site is “released” and available for use by all media outlets and other reposting.

Editor's Note:  RADM Nora Tyson, mentioned in this article, is a Naval Flight Officer who recently took command of Task Force 73, which includes the aircraft carrier USS George H W Bush.