NAVAL BASE HERA, Timor-Leste (Feb. 14, 2023) Timor-Leste Fuzilierios prepare to board a simulated enemy vessel during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training/Marine Exercise Timor-Leste. CARAT/MAREX Timor-Leste is a bilateral exercise between Timor-Leste and the United States designed to promote regional security cooperation, maintain and strengthen maritime partnerships, and enhance maritime interoperability. In its 28th year, the CARAT series is comprised of multinational exercises, designed to enhance U.S. and partner forces’ abilities to operate together in response to traditional and non-traditional maritime security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Nicolas Atehortua)