U.S., Thai Marines complete Cobra Gold 17

CAMP BAN CHAN KREM, THAILAND

02.24.2017

Story by Sgt. Tiffany Edwards 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP BAN CHAN KREM, Thailand – U.S. Marines with Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and Royal Thai Marines participated in Cobra Gold 17 Feb. 13-23, 2017 at Camp Ban Chan Krem, Thailand. Marines with Echo and Weapons Companies, BLT 2/5 trained alongside their Thai counterparts during urban combat environment training, jungle survival training, Assault Amphibious Vehicle training and various community relations events throughout Thailand.
“As a battalion, getting the chance to work so closely with the Royal Thai Marines was a privilege and an invaluable experience,” said Lt. Col. Michael Ogden, commander of BLT 2/5. “We look forward to the next time we’ll have the chance to work this closely with the Royal Thai Marine Corps again.”
Thai, U.S. and partner nation service members participated in community relation projects at various locations throughout the Royal Kingdom of Thailand during Exercise Cobra Gold 2017. Similar to last year, Cobra Gold 17 emphasizes coordination on civic action, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, seeking to expand regional cooperation and collaboration in these vital areas.
“Having the Marines engage not just with the Thai Marines, but the Thai communities, helps build unit morale and provides vital character growth and development in this latest generation of warfighters,” said Sgt. Maj. William Pinkerton, sergeant major of BLT 2/5. “Community engagement helps strengthen the bonds between our two nations and provides a chance to see a different side of our Marines, what we do and how we operate.”
Marines and Sailors with the 31st MEU shared mutually beneficial combat and jungle survival skills in partnership with the Royal Thai Armed Forces during Cobra Gold 2017, which allows both nations to prepare to respond to regional crises.
Cobra Gold, in its 36th iteration, is the largest Theater Security Cooperation exercise in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. This year’s focus is to advance regional security and ensure effective responses to regional crises by bringing together a robust multinational force to address shared goals and security commitments in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.

• Date Taken: 02.24.2017
• Date Posted: 03.01.2017 05:55
• Story ID: 225295
• Location: CAMP BAN CHAN KREM, TH