Photo Information

Service members with the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces, along with U.S. Marines attached to Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, pose for a photo for an amphibious planning subject matter expert exchange during exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Malaysia 2024 on Lumut Naval Base, Lumut, Malaysia, Oct. 31, 2024. CARAT Malaysia 2024 highlights the 30th anniversary of CARAT among allies and partners as a way to demonstrate long-term commitment to strengthened relationships throughout South and Southeast Asia and to highlight U.S. commitment to key Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) partners to reinforce ASEAN Centrality. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I Marine Expeditionary Force executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promotes security goals with Allied and partner nations, and ensures a persistent I MEF presence west of the International Date Line. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler Wilson)

Photo by Cpl. Tyler Wilson

MRF-SEA Marines Conclude Exercise CARAT Malaysia 2024

13 Nov 2024 | Cpl. Tyler Wilson Marine Rotational Force - Southeast Asia

Lumut Naval Base in Lumut, Perak, Malaysia, dates back to the creation of the Royal Malaysian Navy, serving as the institution’s headquarters since Sept. 9, 1984. In October, the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces hosted a detachment of personnel from Marine Rotational Force - Southeast Asia (MRF-SEA) aboard the installation during the execution of the U.S. Navy-lead exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2024, also called CARAT Malaysia. From Oct. 29 to Nov. 5, U.S. Marines and Sailors joined Royal Malaysian Armed Forces personnel to build relationships, increase interoperability, and ensure regional stability.

CARAT Malaysia consisted of both a shore and sea phase, incorporating training in military medicine, legal concepts, engineering, logistics, public affairs, diving and explosive ordnance disposal. Additionally, naval vessels and maritime surveillance aircraft conducted training operations focused on antisubmarine (ASW), surface (ASuW) and air (AWW) warfare, and maritime domain awareness.

For the Marines of MRF-SEA, efforts were focused on contributing to the training events taking place ashore. Members of the Royal Malaysian Navy, Malaysian Army, and Royal Malaysian Air Force, along with U.S. Navy counterparts from Destroyer Squadron 7, joined MRF-SEA for military expert exchanges and training events focused on improving combat medicine, conducting combined amphibious operations planning, and understanding the implementation of cyber operations and cyber security best practices. Regardless of topic, CARAT training took place to strengthen relationships between U.S. and Malaysian military personnel, ensuring that we can effectively work together to maintain regional stability and freedom of movement on land, at sea and in the air.

“We’re enhancing the [Royal Malaysian Armed Forces] capabilities, learning from their planning process, as well as having them learn from our capabilities and expertise,” said U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Thomas Vallely, operations officer for MRF-SEA. “If any real-world situation were to happen, we have interoperability with our partners because we know how each other’s planning processes work.”

30th anniversary of CARAT Photo by Cpl. Tyler Wilson
U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Thomas Vallely, right, operations officer with Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia, presents a gift to Royal Malaysian Lt. Col. Zain Azrai Bin Haji Karia, left, staff officer 1 with 10th Brigade Headquarters, Rapid Deployment Force during an amphibious planning subject matter expert exchange, as part of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Malaysia 2024 in Lumut, Malaysia, Oct. 31, 2024. CARAT Malaysia 2024 highlights the 30th anniversary of CARAT among allies and partners to demonstrate long-term commitment, and highlights U.S. commitment to key Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) partners to reinforce ASEAN Centrality. MRF-SEA is a rotational unit derived from elements of I Marine Expeditionary Force executing a U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific operational model that involves training events and exchanges with partner military subject matter experts, promoting security goals with Allied and partner nations, and ensuring a persistent I MEF presence west of the International Date Line.

U.S. Marines and Sailors with MRF-SEA are on rotation in Southeast Asia to conduct eight exercises in six different countries. The Marine Corps sends this purpose-built rotational force to countries like Malaysia in order to reassure them as allies or partners, increase interoperability among forces, and ensure a safe, secure, free and open Indo-Pacific.

“This is a very good experience and chance that we have, since we are in the process of improving our capabilities,” said Royal Malaysian Army Maj. Mohammad Fazrul bin Mohammad Fadir, staff officer with 10th RDF. “Working with our allies, like the United States Marine Corps, who have a very vast experience in amphibious operations, is a very good experience and gives us time to learn from them and help us uplift our amphibious capability.”

During CARAT Malaysia, a detachment of 11 MRF-SEA personnel successfully exchanged valuable insights and expertise on amphibious operations planning with Royal Malaysian Armed Forces personnel. This collaboration enhanced the Malaysians' abilities, fostered trust, and improved interoperability in combined planning for these types of operations. The combined effort between militaries strengthened working relationships, ensuring the force’s ability to effectively respond to real-world situations and promoting regional stability. CARAT Malaysia laid a solid foundation for future cooperation, reinforcing both nations' commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.