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    Royal Thai, U.S. Marines Get In the Game, close out Cobra Gold 2015

    Royal Thai, U.S. Marines Get In the Game, close out Cobra Gold 2015

    Photo By Sgt. Isaac Ibarra | Cpl. Erik Hurtado, from Boise, Idaho, crosses the finish line Feb. 18 during exercise...... read more read more

    BAN CHAN KREM, Thailand — “Team Elephants and Team Seahawks are neck to neck at checkpoint three,” said the scorekeeper as the crowd anxiously waited at the finish line. The crowd began to hear the thumping of the runners’ boots growing louder and soon, the rattling of their footsteps faded into the crowd’s screaming.

    Royal Thai and U.S. Marines joined together to play sports as exercise Cobra Gold 2015 came to a close at Ban Chan Krem, Thailand, Feb. 18.

    After two rigorous weeks of training together Marines from both nations split into two, integrated teams, choosing team names: “Elephants” and “Seahawks.” The day consisted of several events including soccer, volleyball, a 2-mile rally race, and other sports.

    “We purposely integrated the two teams to continue building our partnership and cooperation that we’ve worked with in these past two weeks of training,” said Lt. Col. Lance Jackola, the commanding officer of 1st Battalion 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Jackola’s unit is currently assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program.

    This training opened doors for both forces to learn about each other’s cultures and build friendships.

    “Training with U.S. Marines has brought many new experiences,” said Pvt. Tanyawit Praiwong, Royal Thai Marine with 3rd infantry Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. “The U.S. Marines are very friendly, I’ve made a lot of new relationships and we had tons of fun today.”

    The bonds that were built throughout the training became very noticeable as the Thai and U.S. Marines cheered each other on during the sporting events.

    “It’s our last day out here on the Cobra Gold exercise and I’m extremely excited to be spending it with [the Thai Marines] through sports,” said Cpl. Erik Hurtado, a rifleman with 1st Bn., 1st Marines. “I got to learn and grow with the Thais a little bit over our training, and they’re like extended family.”

    The Marines had so much fun playing sports that even after the scoreboards went down, and the competition was over. They continued to play.

    “Our countries cultures may be different, but our warrior’s culture is very similar, and when it comes down to it we’re all Marines,” said Jackola.

    Cobra Gold is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored exercise representing 182 years of friendship between Thai and American people. This year, the exercise has an increased focus on humanitarian civic action, community engagement and medical activities to better support civilian populations in the region.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 02.18.2015
    Date Posted: 02.24.2015 01:09
    Story ID: 155204
    Location: BAN CHAN KREM, TH

    Web Views: 261
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN