LOPBURI, Thailand - Inside modest homes of Lopburi residents, rooms quickly filled with gratitude as soldiers stepped through doorways carrying bags of food and household items. The visit was part of a community outreach event led by the Royal Thai Army, highlighting how civil affairs teams connect with and support members of the local community.
“The team had an opportunity to present items that were critically needed, such as food, supplies and personal care items,” said Maj. Rebecca Nekula, the Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC) Chief for Alpha Company in the 492nd Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve. “It also gave us a chance to see how Thai culture values community and understand how they take care of their elders and support each other.”
For U.S. civil affairs soldiers participating in the event, this moment offered a meaningful glimpse into how their Thai counterparts serve their communities while strengthening relationships beyond the training environment.
"Civil Affairs is fundamentally about relationships. Observing how Royal Thai Army civil affairs soldiers engage with their communities gave our team valuable insight into how they build trust with the local population. Engagements like this strengthen rapport between our forces and improve interoperability as we learn from one another and work together in support of our shared mission.” said Nekula.
The role civil affairs soldiers play in multinational exercises, such as Hanuman Guardian, strengthen readiness and interoperability while building lasting partnerships. They allow civil affairs soldiers from both nations to compare how their organizations approach similar missions, despite operating in different environments.
“There’s a mutual aspect to the training we do together,” said Capt. Korey Bowlby, the civil Affairs team chief within Alpha Company. “While we may provide training, our Thai partners are actively involved, sharing their perspectives and experiences.”
Following the community engagement, soldiers from both nations visited a historic temple in Lopburi, where Thai service members shared the cultural significance of the site and provided additional context about the local community.
“It’s really about building a relationship through the activities we do together, the conversations we have and seeing Thai soldiers work within their communities,” said Capt. Bowlby. “It shows that we’re here to support them, understand their culture and learn how our teams can work together.”
These interactions play an important role in building trust between partner nations. Through shared experiences, conversations and collaboration, soldiers gain insights that strengthen professional relationships and improve operational effectiveness.
Hanuman Guardian continues to strengthen the long-standing partnership between the United States and Thailand while providing soldiers opportunities to build relationships and cultural awareness essential for future operations. Through community engagement, shared training and professional exchanges, civil affairs teams from both nations work together to remain ready to support military objectives and the people at the heart of every mission.