What is Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (LF CARAT) 2012 ?

Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (LF CARAT) 2012 is comprised of multiple bilateral exercises, which are conducted alongside the Naval and Marine/Army forces of partner Southeast Asian nations.  The exercises constitute significant theater security cooperation events for the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet, Marine Forces Pacific, and the U.S. Pacific Command. 
   The primary exercising force is a Naval Task Force, which has been designated by Command Seventh Fleet. Included are embarked Marine Corps forces, which compose the landing force.  The landing force conducts tailored exercises with counterpart armed force elements, alongside adjacent Naval exercises conducted concurrently.  The scope, size, and details of each exercise varies depending on individual tailoring in the host nation's request for subject matter exchange.

    For the 2012 exercise, the landing force is composed of an Infantry Rifle Company, Amphibious Assault Vehicle Platoon, and Headquarters. 4th Marine Regiment is the operational command element. The landing force is embarked throughout the exercise.

Aweome.


By the very nature of these exercises, the Marine Corps will be coming into contact with Army Special Forces teams more and more.


And I find that interesting.


Outside of Army SF, the rest of SOCOM is basically dedicated to direct action missions and direct action missions only.  The Rangers can easily revert back to a swing role of being the nations Rapid Response Force (they'll get competition from Marine Expeditionary Units and the 82nd's Division Ready Brigades) and generally example to the Big Army but MARSOC, AFSOC, and NAVSPECWAR are all going to be looking for work.  The Pacific as big as it is might become a crowded place real soon.