A sailor assigned to guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift

A sailor assigned to guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) observes as the Legend-class national security cutter USCGC Waesche (WMSL 751) comes alongside to nest with the Vandegrift. Vandegrift and Waesche are in General Santos City to participate in exercise 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 Petty Officer 1st Class N. Ross Taylor)