PHITSANULOK, Kingdom of Thailand – U.S. service members delivered donated computer systems Feb. 13 to several schools as part of an engineering and civic assistance project during Exercise Cobra Gold (CG14) in Phitsanulok, Kingdom of Thailand.
Humanitarian and civic assistance projects conducted during the exercise support the needs and humanitarian interests of the Thai people. In accordance with that philosophy, four schools across Thailand have been chosen to have a multipurpose structure built by a joint multinational team of military engineers.
“We are very grateful for all the things the U.S. and Thai are doing for us here,” said Suchinee Chaikwao, the deputy school director at the Wat Kuh Song School. “The new school and computers will help us very much since we live on donations.”
Being in a remote area in Chanthaburi, these computers make a huge difference and will help the students and faculty members train with technology, according to Chaikwao.
Sixteen computer systems were donated by Hennessey Moet through coordination with U.S. civil affairs members and the Thailand Department of Commerce.
“The computer donations are important because some of the schools don’t have them,” said U.S. Marine Capt. Matthew Frick, civil affairs officer with the civil affairs detachment, G-3, operations, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “In other schools their current systems are broken. These computer systems will also allow the faculty members to teach children how to use them.”
The civil affairs team assigned to the Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force has strived to provide assistance and increase understanding through key leader engagements during CG 14, according to Frick.
“In addition to helping the local community, it’s important that U.S. civil affairs service members continue to partner and develop relationships with governmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations,” said Frick.
“We reach out to these organizations to establish relations just as if humanitarian aid and disaster relief was needed in this area. My fellow service members and I reach out to those personnel to provide a link to the U.S. military.”
CG 14, in its 33rd iteration, demonstrates the U.S. and the Kingdom of Thailand’s commitment to their long-standing alliance and regional partnership, prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region.