160604-M-MO883-222 SULU SEA (June 4, 2016) U.S. Sailors, embarked aboard the forward-deployed Whidbey Island Class dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), conduct Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure training with service members of the Philippine Navy in support of exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training.The service members are scheduled to participate in a number of classes and exercises with the Marines and Sailors aboard the Ashland. CARAT is a series of annual, bilateral maritime exercises between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the armed forces of nine partner nations to include Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Timor-Leste. The Ashland is assigned to the U.S. 7th Fleet.(U.S. Navy photo by Lance Cpl. Carl King Jr/Released)