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    US, Thai Marines join for Cobra Gold 2011 field training exercises opening ceremony

    US, Thai Marines join for Cobra Gold 2011 field training exercises opening ceremony

    Photo By Cpl. Mark Stroud | A Royal Thailand Marine holds his Corps' colors during the field training exercise...... read more read more

    BAN CHAN KREM, THAILAND

    02.07.2011

    Story by Pfc. Mark Stroud 

    III Marine Expeditionary Force   

    BAN CHAN KREM, Kingdom of Thailand – Marines and sailors from the Ground Combat Element of 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward, III Marine Expeditionary Force, along with Royal Thailand Marines gathered at a newly constructed firing range here for the opening ceremonies of the field training exercises for Cobra Gold 2011.

    The GCE, headquartered out of Ban Chan Krem, consist of Marines and sailors from 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force; Combat Assault Battalion, 3rd MarDiv; 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd MarDiv; and Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III MEF.

    U.S. Marine Col. Stephen M. Neary, commanding officer of the GCE, along with his Thai counterpart, Royal Thai Marine Col. Sittinan Ronnarong, addressed the troops during the field training exercises opening ceremony on the importance of partner nation interoperability and joint training.

    “It’s great to be in Thailand participating in the 30th anniversary of Cobra Gold,” said Neary. “Here at [Ban Chan Krem], the [GCE] is honored to be in the Kingdom of Thailand with [one of the] U.S.’ oldest ally dating back to 1833.”

    The commanders addressed their troops from a hill overlooking a training area that only six days ago had been untamed wilderness. Heavy equipment operators with CAB leveled the ground before working parties pulled from 4th Marines and CAB finished constructing the ranges in a six-day period.

    Before CAB and 4th Marines built the ranges, there was nothing at the site except the brush and hills that make up the rest of Ban Chan Krem, according to Cpl. Daniel D. Comparetto, a heavy equipment operator with Combat Engineers Company, CAB.

    The area will be used for a seven-day training evolution that will see U.S., Thai and Republic of Korea Marines train with a new skill set each day. The training will include two combined units mixing Marines from different countries together for joint training.

    “We will accomplish this [training] by conducting live-fire training, executing a combat life saving package, urban operations training and a staff planning exercise for a humanitarian assistance, disaster relief problem,” said Neary. “Our live fire training will consist of enhanced marksmanship training, a machine gun shoot and the employment of Marine air.”

    The training here will also include training with various weapons systems and tactics, which familiarizes the Marines with their counterparts operating procedures.

    “They will get a pretty good grasp of the weapons systems,” said Cpl. Patrick Rodriguez, a MK19 Automatic grenade launcher instructor at the new range.

    “Throughout the exercise we will focus on building relationships with our Thai and Korean Marine brothers, working on multinational solutions to common problems,” said Neary.

    The 3rd MEB GCE, Aviation Combat Element and Logistics Combat Element will participate in joint training throughout Thailand during Cobra Gold 2011, including a mock amphibious assault at Hat Yao, a helicopter raid at Samesan and humanitarian assistance and community relations projects at various locations.

    In addition to the field training exercise, Cobra Gold 2011 has a staff exercise and numerous humanitarian civic assistance program projects throughout Thailand. Cobra Gold 2011 is a regularly scheduled joint and combined exercise in the continuing series of U.S.-Thai military exercises designed to ensure regional peace bY strengthening the bonds between the seven particpating nations: Thailand, Republic of Singapore, Japan, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Malaysia and the U.S.

    For more about Cobra Gold 2011, visit www.marines.mil/cobragold2011 or www.facebook.com/exercisecobragold.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.07.2011
    Date Posted: 02.08.2011 14:25
    Story ID: 65026
    Location: BAN CHAN KREM, TH

    Web Views: 740
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN