Ships are underway in the Celebes Sea during the conclusion of the at-sea phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Philippines 2012.

CELEBES SEA (Jul. 08, 2012) The Philippine navy coastal patrol craft BRP Salvador Abcede (PG 114), the corvette BRP Miguel Malvar (PS 19), the Philippine coast guard patrol boat PCG Pampanga (SARV 003), BRP IloIlo (PS 32) the U.S. Navy guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) and the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Waesche (WMSL 751) are underway in the Celebes Sea during the conclusion of the at-sea phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines 2012. CARAT is a series of bilateral military exercises between the U.S. Navy and the armed forces of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Timor Leste joins the exercise for the first time in 2012. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Gregory A. Harden II) File# 120708-N-HI414-081