Photo By 94th Airlift Wing | Leaders from the Singapore army, U.S.Air Force, Thai Royal Army, and Republic of China...... read more read more
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SARABURI, Thailand - For more than three weeks, members from the U.S. Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force, Singapore Armed Forces, and People’s Republic of China Army have been working together to build a multipurpose classroom for Watbanmak School, in Saraburi Province, Thailand, as part of exercise Cobra Gold 2016.
While Cobra Gold is in its 35th iteration, this Cobra Gold is special since it marks the ongoing relationship where these four nations have a chance to join together to work on humanitarian civic action programs.
“It’s been fun; all of the countries have gotten along,” said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Shane Lockridge, 35th Civil Engineer Squadron chief of project programming and site 5 U.S. officer in charge.
The construction at Watbanmak School is one of six HCA sites in which the Thai, U.S. and partner nation militaries will work together for the common good of the local Thai community. The HCA program focuses on improving the quality of life, as well as the general health and welfare of civilian residents in the Cobra Gold exercise areas.
“Right now the fourth and the fifth graders are the largest classes and they currently share a classroom so it’s a little cramped,” Lockridge explained.“This school just doesn’t have enough square footage for the students. So this [new construction] will expand the footprint and they will be able to use it to separate the age groups.”
This particular construction project has provided a unique opportunity for all participating nations to come together and demonstrate a mutual commitment to the humanitarian interests of friends and partner nations.
“Everybody is working hard and everyone wants to finish this building,” explained Royal Thai Air Force Pilot Officer Chawit Somjit, site 5 Thai officer in charge. “We share, and everybody can learn from that.”
The site at Watbanmak School has provided an opportunity for engineers and construction workers to join together, while exchanging ideas, construction tips and techniques.
“It’s been a good experience especially learning from all of the other countries,” Lockridge continued. “The Thai and other nations obviously do construction differently than we do, so we’ve learned tricks from them and vice versa.”
Not only has this exercise emphasized interoperability between these nations but it has also strengthened relationships through cultural exchange.
“The best part has been the camaraderie and doing cultural exchanges to get to know about each other’s cultures,” added Singapore Armed Forces Capt. Ivan Lee, Combat Engineer Company and site 5 Singapore officer in charge.
As part of the cultural exchange, workers this year had a chance to ring in the Chinese New Year’s together while working side-by-side.
“The Chinese have been very friendly and we all celebrated Chinese New Year this past weekend,” Lockridge said. “They did a little barbeque for us and then they had some decorations. Afterwards they gave them out as gifts to all of us.”
People’s Republic of China Army Lt. Shiming Zhu, China Engineering Regiment, site 5 Chinese officer in charge, commented, that this has been an interesting experience and a rewarding one, because they have had a chance to help the children.
“One of the best parts was we did a luncheon this last Monday with the students,” added Somjit.
For these military members not only has this been an interesting cultural and learning experience, but knowing that they are helping a local community has also been one of the most important aspects of this project.
“This is a special school since it teaches students from low income families,” Lockridge added. “This project is meaningful to all of us because we know how much this means to the local community.”
Lee concluded by saying, “This project has been fulling for us all because it is direct community service.”
Over the next week workers will make the final preparations to conclude this building project.
The classroom is scheduled to be complete and dedicated to the local community on Feb. 16.
| Date Taken: | 02.11.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 02.12.2016 09:09 |
| Story ID: | 188717 |
| Location: | SARABURI, TH |
| Web Views: | 276 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, US, Thailand, Singapore, and China build together during Cobra Gold, by Amber Kurka, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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