KORAT ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE BASE, Thailand — Military personnel of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, Marine Air Control Squadron 4 Detachment B and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 have been utilizing the services Marine Corps Community Services has managed to set up while military personnel support Exercise Cobra Gold 2012.
Exercise Cobra Gold is an annual multinational exercise that allows military personnel to conduct bi-lateral and unit level training with the Thai Armed Forces, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company.
During the advanced party, MCCS personnel set up internet and within the first week of this deployment had a gym, small shopping center and entertainment areas.
Working parties were utilized to set everything up in a timely fashion.
“We come out here to support the deployment, we have close to 1,500 people on the ground,” said Shaun S. Ally, Single Marine Program coordinator. “We set up internet, gym, a PX, recreation equipment and a bunch of tours.”
The luxuries provided by MCCS not only help service members pass time, but prevent a communication gap often experienced while on exercises and deployments.
“The hardest part from what I can tell is the fact that people want to talk to their families and work out, if we hadn’t set up a gym or internet, this deployment would be very hard on some people,” said
Ally.
The exercise is approximately a monthlong training deployment which is minimal time compared to tours in other locations.
“I appreciate MCCS for doing this. Deployments are hard enough, but they are providing us with opportunities we wouldn’t have if it weren’t for them,” said Cpl. Shane D. Tabor, MALS-12 F-18 engine technician.
Military personnel will continue to use services provided until Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 is finished as it provides them with a taste of home while deployed.