TANJUNG GELANG NAVAL BASE, Malaysia - U.S. Marines with Landing Force Company participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2013 (CARAT 2013) began land-based training and amphibious assault operations with Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) June 15.
Bilateral engagements between U.S. Marines and the Malaysian Armed Forces are scheduled to include jungle warfare training, sniper employment, combat marksmanship program and Marine Corps Martial Arts Program concluding with an amphibious assault June 21.
2nd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, who is currently attached to Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program, will provide ship-to-shore capabilities to Marines with 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Following training in Malaysia, the Marines will re-embark the USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and go to the Republic of the Philippines to conduct training with the Philippine Marine Corps.
The Landing Force Company will participate in a series of bilateral training engagements during CARAT 2013 to enhance interoperability with partner militaries, address shared concerns and build lasting relationships with the host nations.
CARAT 2013 is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste.