Staff Sergeant Donald Vaughn of the U.S. Marine Corps speaks with students at Santa Rita Elementary School in Subic Bay, Philippines, on June 27.

The community relations event was held in support of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Philippines 2014.

In its 20th year, CARAT is an annual, bilateral exercise series with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations, including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

Planning for each phase of CARAT begins a year in advance, and the exercise phases take place during the same general timeframe each year. CARAT 2014 began in late May and recently completed phases with Malaysia and Indonesia. Additional phases will continue through the end of the year with Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Singapore and Timor-Leste.

In 2014, CARAT Philippines focused on combined operations at sea, amphibious landings, diving and salvage, and maritime patrol and reconnaissance flights. U.S. military personnel trained with their Philippine Armed Forces counterparts during multiple drills, professional exchanges and seminars ashore.