Engineering, medical projects press forward in Thailand during Cobra Gold 2011

UTAPAO, THAILAND

02.10.2011

Story by 1st Lt. Scott Sasser 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

UTAPAO, Kingdom of Thailand – Maps line the walls here in a building recently converted into the Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force combat operations center as Marines and sailors support the eight engineering and nine medical civic action projects being conducted throughout Thailand as part of Exercise Cobra Gold 2011.

Humanitarian and civic assistance projects conducted by Thailand, Republic of Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Korea and the U.S. armed forces will improve the quality of life and the general health and welfare of residents in the exercise areas.

Service members from all participating nations began constructing school buildings as early as Jan. 14 in an effort to support the region as well as develop military-to-community relationships, said 2nd Lt. Brittany Kirk, engineer liaison officer for the CJCMOTF. Multinational teams have since been working at the sites on a daily basis, and some of these projects are already nearing completion.

"Interacting with the children and speaking with the teachers at several of the sites has really shown me the positive impact we are having on these communities," said Kirk. "I truly feel blessed to be here."

Schools are not the only focus of the CJCMOTF mission: medical, dental and veterinarian civic action projects are also being conducted throughout Thailand thanks to a multinational team spending more than two weeks traveling around the country, said Lt. Cmdr. Randy S. Dee, lead planner for the CJCMOTF. More than 2,000 patients have already been seen at the first three sites in Chon Buri province and the team is preparing to conduct six more MDVCAPs in other areas where they plan on seeing at least 1,000 patients at each.

"With the help of the Thai military, local government officials, and in collaboration with our multinational partners, we have been very successful in letting the local population know we are here to help," said Dee. "Together we are giving people in remote areas access to optometry, dental and other medical care that can possibly change their lives."

This is the first year the CJCMOTF has been a functional component of Cobra Gold meaning there are more civic action projects this year than ever before, said Maj.Matthew T. James, operations officer for Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3d Marine Logistics
Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Progress has been steady and in some cases, ahead of schedule. The projects should be completed on or before the closing ceremonies for Cobra Gold 2011 being held in Chiang Mai Feb. 18.

"Working with the multinational forces is a great experience for me," said Special Col. Chanchai Romyen, CJCMOTF commander. "We learn from each other so everyone benefits."

For more information about Cobra Gold 2011 or the MDVCAP locations, visit www.marines.mil/CobraGold2011 Or WWW.facebook.com/ExerciseCobraGold.

• Date Taken: 02.10.2011
• Date Posted: 02.10.2011 05:06
• Story ID: 65106
• Location: UTAPAO, TH