Alameda cutter returns home after Southeast Asia patrol

ALAMEDA, Calif. - The Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau returned to homeport here today, following a 21-week deployment to Southeast Asia where the cutter participated with naval forces of Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, the Phillipines and Thailand in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) and Southeast Asian Cooperation Against Terrorism.

CARAT is a series of bilateral exercises designed to increase the understanding of Southeast Asian cultures in the event the militaries are called upon to work together in real-world operations. The tri-fold CARAT mission includes enhancing regional cooperation; building friendships between the United States and nations involved, and strengthening professional skills at every level.

Many Coasts- Sharing the Mission Beyond Our Shores

by Petty Officer Eric J. Chandler (For Release)

BRUNEI - Quiet waves arrive at a tropical shore with a metronome’s rhythmic perfection. White sand beaches are divided by peaks of volcanic rock. Strange shells mark the line of high tide. At the sands edge begins an impassible mass of vegetation, bamboo, twisting vines and broad leaved trees.

Sounds of unseen beasts and spiced scents emerge from the flora. Pathless, dense foliage drips wet with humidity and even stone appears to sweat in the moist heat. The bright eyes and gracious smiles of passing locals lighten the mood and fortify a feeling of appreciation. To a homesick sailor, labors showing immediately positive results are priceless.

Crewmembers of Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau find tranquility here, a reward for their work. They will have been underway for 248-days of fiscal year 2008 by the end of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise.

CARAT is an annual Southeast Asia mission that houses several sub-missions of international significance. This year CARAT visited Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, and with just a few more port calls, the cutter will be returning to its home port of Alameda, Calif.

The idea is to share the Coast Guard’s missions, techniques and traditions in Southeast Asia, the Pacific Rim and throughout the world. Programs like CARAT, the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum and United Nation’s Law of the Seas Treaty have taken our objectives to similar agencies guarding many coasts with the same methods and principles we use at home. Sharing goals and strategy ensures that our nations will be able to work together when we need to.

One of the primary missions of CARAT is a cooperative training between the Navy, Coast Guard and host nation’s armed forces and maritime services. For the Coast Guard this means exchanging knowledge of antipiracy, anti-smuggling, law enforcement practices and search and rescue (SAR). This training is mainly conducted by the Deployable Operations Group (DOG) and members of Morgenthau’s crew.

For each country, this part of the mission includes several days of classroom work, followed by underway mock boarding, law enforcement and SAR drills. The Coast Guard and local maritime services take turns locating fake contraband and disarming and detaining suspects on each other’s vessels. They also conduct underway SAR and navigation drills, staging small boats as vessels in distress and locating them as quickly as possible.

Coast Guard Gunner’s Mate First Class John Ware, a law enforcement subject matter expert for the DOG, is one of the instructors selected for this year’s CARAT.

“It is beneficial for the host countries to have this training. It gives them a ‘good, better, best,’ practice in dealing with piracy, fisheries law enforcement and migrant interdiction. It also gives them a chance to gain inter-agency experience and see other countries standard operating procedures, while comparing them to their own,” said Ware.

A new addition to the CARAT 2008 mission has been the inclusion of members of the Coast Guard Strike Team. Machinery Technician Petty Officer First Class Anthony Gonzalez and Marine Science Technician First Class Bridgette Brown gave host countries presentations on the National Incident Management System (NIMS), Coast Guard history, missions and a tabletop discussion on the Coast Guards involvement and perspective in natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina.

“The strike team holds a specific expertise in Coast Guard operations, being able to share it with the host nations so that they can learn from our experience is very important work,” said Brown.

Community relations projects have kept public attention in many participating countries. Brunei media displayed the Coast Guard, Navy and local armed forces efforts in local newspapers and television. These missions are not intended as humanitarian aid, because each local government and military agency participates in the projects. They serve a vital role in strengthening the relationships between U.S. Armed Forces, Southeast Asian Armed Forces and the local people of each country.

“The mission shows that human beings everywhere are the same, and feel from the heart the desire to help one another,” said Malaysian Army Capt. Faizul Nordin, Royal Medical Corps. “It is important for us to develop relationships both with each other, as well as the local people.”

Projects have ranged from medical aid in remote and economically challenged areas to construction and community interaction projects at schools for special needs children and orphanages. Each project had more volunteers than could be logistically supported, and many of those selected returned at an emotional loss of words when trying to describe their experiences with the local people.

“This is what the Coast Guard is all about, helping people, and that is what we have done here,” said Health Service Technician Second Class Tania Goicuria-Diaz, one of the volunteers who worked on a medical mission in the village of Kijal, Malaysia.

The final stage of CARAT is the Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEACAT) exercise. SEACAT is a scenario based multi-national, multi-agency drill that follows CARAT in the South China Sea. The Coast Guard, Navy and host countries participate in scenarios to strengthen their ability to work together in emergencies.

To the crew of Morgenthau it is all in a day’s work. Gunnery exercises, field days, drills and more drills. Steel beach, swim call, casino night and movie Friday on the flight deck. At night they wait for sleep with eyes closed, but active minds. They hear the engines, and know they are going home, yard by yard. Drifting into sleep, they count remaining days of watch. Rounds are made in the engine room. Qualifications are studied in the learning center. Email is checked more and more frequently.

Mission completion approaches, home is getting closer and excitement begins to show at the mention of favorite coffee shops, television shows, family and friends.  The crew works and plays harder to pass the time. The Coast Guard’s goal has been to make the world a safer place. To the crew, the unwritten story will be the memories of a lifetime.

Coast Guard, Navy promote overseas unity through mutual goodwill

KEMAMAN, Malaysia - A living green jungle is illuminated beneath a nimbus of crimson cloud with the arrival of dawn in Kemaman, Malaysia. A mission of heavy importance awaits the crew of a white hulled cutter, and the thoughts of many are laden with logistics, plans and deadlines. Malaysia is a mystery not yet explored by personnel of Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau.

Immediate tasks must be taken care of first, such as establishing shore power, taking on fresh water and loading supplies. The July heat rises under an ascending sun. The crew hydrates and the air feels heavy with moisture.

Morgenthau is here conducting the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training () exercise with the Navy. Essentially the mission is designed as a cross training opportunity for the Coast Guard, Navy and host country’s armed forces. In Malaysia, the Navy and Coast Guard are conducting joint medical and construction operations as well as military, law enforcement and search and rescue training with the Malaysian Armed Forces.

Medical professionals of the Coast Guard, Navy and Malaysian Armed Forces arrived at the Kebangsaan School, in the village of Kijal, Malaysia, on July 8, 2008, and provided treatment, medicine and medical advice for the residents and students there for a total of three days.

Children and adults, though shy at first, CARATwere soon greeting their guests with honest smiles, ‘good morning sirs’ and hand gesture peace signs. The welcoming locals and high spirit days were experienced with great reward by the sea weary volunteers.

“This mission shows that human beings everywhere are the same, and feel from the heart the desire to help one another,” said Malaysian Army Capt. Faizul Nordin, Royal Medical Corps.

“It has been a great experience working together with the Navy and Coast Guard medical team,” said Nordin. “It is important for us to both develop relationships with each other, as well as the local people.”

The children, young ladies in traditional Muslim clothing and young men in school uniforms, were eager to interact with the visitors from afar. On the second day everyone involved held a sports day. Challenging looks of confidence mocked the maritime services, who proved to be no match for the dexterous youth of Kijal.

Health Service Technician Second Class Tania Goicuria-Diaz was among the Coast Guard volunteers at the village. She spent most of her time in Malaysia performing examinations, providing medicine and giving advice toward the treatment of ailments.

“This is what the Coast Guard is all about, helping people, and that is what we have done here. It has been very rewarding to work with Doctor Nordin and learn about the local customs,” said Goicuria-Diaz.

Goicuria-Diaz is with Morgenthau on temporary assigned duty, her permanent unit being Air Station Humboldt Bay, Calif. She volunteered for the patrol and has been working with the cutter’s medical crew on similar missions in Thailand, Philippines and Singapore over the past several months.

Meanwhile, a Navy construction battalion from Gulfport, Mississippi, is hard at work building an addition to the school. They arrived 20 days ahead of the Coast Guard, and expected the project to be completed on July 16th. Malaysian Armed Forces volunteers worked alongside the Sea Bees, as they are called, matching them worker for worker, hour for hour, every day. Each workforce earned the respect of their counterparts by labor and intent of goodwill.

The Coast Guard Deployable Operations Group (DOG) conducted an exchange of military and law enforcement training with their Malaysian counterparts, the Maritim Malaysia agency. The DOG, working with crewmembers of Morgenthau, shared their knowledge and experience of navigation, search and rescue, law enforcement and team coordination with this Malaysian maritime enforcement agency.

The training consisted of several days of classroom study and practice followed by three days of underway exercise. During the time at sea the agencies boarded each other’s vessels simulating that one side or the other were smugglers, and reacting realistically as the responding enforcement agency. Each side was eager to learn and the experience turned out to be a lot of fun for both agencies.

Towering clouds reach high into the upper atmosphere in the South China Sea, with sunsets of majesty that a camera can’t capture. Unrecognized jellyfish drift by the white hull and crewmembers eyes look seaward with thoughts of distant shores. Fatigue settles in the evening after the heat and labor of the days. An easy swell and the engines murmur eases the crew to sleep. Dreams are fueled as their minds take in new experiences during the deep slumber of exhaustion.

After an overnight port call, Morgenthau departed Malaysia as it had arrived, in the glow of the rising sun. Kemaman had been visited by the Coast Guard during CARAT before, and most likely will be again. To the crew of Morgenthau, this will be remembered as a vivid tale of smiling children, graceful customs and welcoming people. To the people of Kijal and Malaysian Armed Forces, the crew will be remembered as travelers who came on a mission of goodwill, and departed with the simple reward of accomplishment.

Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau Changes Hands in Singapore

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Seth Clarke, U.S. Navy

SINGAPORE - Capt. Douglas J. Smith relieved Capt. Kevin M. O’Day as commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard cutter Morgenthau (WHEC 722) during a ceremony at Sembawang Wharf, Singapore, July 29.

Smith assumed command of Morgenthau following an assignment in Washington, D.C. as the executive director of the federal interagency group interdiction committee.

Although Morgenthau’s home port is in Alameda, Calif., Smith traveled Singapore to assume command because the cutter is in the region taking part in annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercises.

Vice Adm. David P. Pekoske, commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area, said Morgenthau’s participation in this year’s CARAT exercises has done both U.S. and partner nations’ forces a great service.

“I consider Morgenthau in the top tier of the highest quality cutters,” Pekoske told the assembled Coast Guardsmen and Sailors. “For CARAT, you’ve already visited five host nations. You are imparting on them Coast Guard excellence, Coast Guard expertise.”

Pekoske added that CARAT has provided an even more familiar partnership to grow closer.

“You’ve been able to conduct joint operations with the U.S. Navy. That is more important now than it has been in our recent history.”

In October, 2007, the leadership of the Navy, Coast Guard and Marine Corps unveiled a new “Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower” that calls for greater cooperation and interoperability between all the U.S. sea services.

Lt. Jennifer Runion, a Coast Guard tactical action officer, first participated in CARAT exercises in 2002. She said the forces have continued to build on their ability to work together as well as with other countries.

“It just continues to be better and better every year,” Runion said. “I’m sure Captain Smith will continue to be an active participant and show both the foreign nations and the Navy just what Morgenthau can provide to the event.”

O’Day also turned the attention away from himself to focus on just why he said Morgenthau would continue to set a high standard for Coast Guard vessels: her crew. O’Day asked those present to give him credit for one action above others.

“I am proud of the fact that ‘thank you’ is the phrase I used most often on Morgenthau,” an emotional O’Day recalled. “I meant each one of them sincerely. To all the crew members, past and present: thank you all.”

In addition to Morgenthau, U.S. ships participating in CARAT exercises include the dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46), the guided-missile frigates USS Jarrett (FFG 33) and USS Ford (FFG 54), and USNS Safeguard (T-ARS 50).

CARAT is an annual series of bilateral military training exercises between the United States and several Southeast Asian nations designed to enhance the operational readiness of the participating forces.

Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau Completes First Phase of CARAT

PALAWAN, Philippines - The law enforcement team aboard the Alameda-based Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau completed the first phase of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) with the Philippine naval forces June 3.

Morgenthau crewmembers gave extensive, hands-on training for seven days here. They conducted training on land and aboard the ship with the U.S. Navy, Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard. The training involved law enforcement tactics, search and rescue missions, and damage control.

During the at-sea training phase the Morgenthau, U.S. Navy, Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard intermittently swapped crewmembers aboard the vessels to help strengthen the professional relationships built during the inport training phase. Training evolutions remained constant throughout the day and well into the night.

“Sending law enforcement teams aboard different vessels to simulate an actual boarding gave everyone the chance to interact, teach and learn new tactics,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Robert Foucha, a boatswain’s mate aboard the Morgenthau. “There is always something new you learn when practicing with so many different branches, especially those overseas,” he said.

The Morgenthau will continue to conduct training in cooperation with U.S. Navy crewmembers and the host nation in the second phase of the CARAT deployment. The U.S. Coast Guard’s background in international maritime law enforcement and homeland security will be employed during each of the training sessions. Morgenthau crewmembers will continue to give each host nation training in shipboard damage control, maritime law enforcement and search and rescue.

During the next three months, Morgenthau crewmembers and U.S. Navy sailors will conduct the same training and relations with Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand and Malaysia.

In an attempt to combat the global maritime terrorist threat, the 378-foot cutter is scheduled to participate in the Southeast Asia Cooperation Against Terrorism (SEA-CAT), a multi-lateral exercise that will involve the same six countries as CARAT. SEA-CAT will be conducted at the end of CARAT and will use the same U.S. assets as CARAT. SEA-CAT focuses on refining maritime security skills, which includes training related to boarding team tactics/techniques, small boat skills, boarding-at-sea and joint boarding capabilities.