CARAT + Malaysian Students + Sailors = One Cute Story :D

[Navy for Moms Admin]

I thought this was worthy to pass on... :) CC



080709-N-0096V-075 KUANTAN, Malaysia (July 8, 2008) Operation Specialist 1st Class Freddie Foster, assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Toruga (LSD-46) teams with members of the Royal Malaysian Navy to compete in a tug-of-war at sports day during the Malaysian phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2008. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises involving the U.S. and six Southeast Asia nations designed to build relationships and enhance operational readiness. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Steve Vasquez (Released)

Sailor Story:Malaysian Children (found on www.news.navy.com)

Story Number: NNS080711-14
Release Date: 7/11/2008 10:06:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Brannon, Commander, Task Force 73 Public Affairs

CHUKAI, KEMAMAN, Malaysia (NNS) -- Students from a Malaysian elementary school laughed and played games with U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel during a Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2008 community relations project July 9.

Delivering 30 soccer balls, volleyballs and basketballs, personnel from USS Tortuga (LSD 46), USS Jarrett (FFG 33), USS Ford (FFG 54) and USCGC Morgenthau (WHEC 722) engaged in a morning of sports activities with some of Sekolah Kebangsaan Kijal Elementary's 953 students. Project Handclasp supplied all the sporting goods.

"These kids aren't as privileged as us, so it's good for them that we come out and play with them," said Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Andre Batts of Tortuga. "It's also good for us."

U.S. Sailors and Coast Guardsmen, along with Royal Malaysian Sailors assigned to the corvette KD Lekir (F 26), joined forces to challenge the school's soccer team to a game. The students, ranging in ages from 11 to 12, used the game as practice for an upcoming Malaysian national match where they will represent the state of Terengganu.

The children trounced the military personnel 5-1.

"I love being out here, I love doing volunteer work, anything that makes a difference in their lives and makes a positive impression," said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Dorcus Mitchell of Tortuga. "Some of the kids are kind of shy, but when you show them it's okay, they break loose a little bit."

In addition to the sporting goods, the U.S. delivered a pallet of hygiene supplies to the school.

Concurrent civil action projects also brought free medical and dental attention to the same site, while Seabees worked to build additional facilities for the school.

Capt. Mohd Izani of the Royal Malaysian Army Religious Corps noted that the local community appreciated the humanitarian and athletic events.

"This is their first time seeing people from the U.S., and they can say, 'Oh, this is the U.S., this is the Navy,'" Izani said.

CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the United States and six Southeast Asia nations designed to build relationships and enhance operational readiness.

For more news from Commander Task Force 73, visit www.navy.mil/local/clwp/.



080709-N-1159B-095 CHUKAI, Malaysia (July 9, 2008) Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Andre Batts, assigned to the amphibious dock landing ship USS Toruga (LSD-46), demonstrates proper ball spinning technique during a community relations project at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kijal elementary school as part of Cooperation Afloat Readiness And Training (CARAT) 2008. CARAT is an annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises between the United States and six Southeast Asia nations designed to build relationships and enhance the operational readiness of participating forces. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Brannon (Released)

[diane {Shawns mom}]

whoohoo mY son's ship partipates in the CARAT...great thing our sailors do..