WEBVTT 00:06.730 --> 00:08.619 De Aman arrived in the Kingdom of 00:08.619 --> 00:11.899 Thailand on 23 February 2026 to conduct 00:11.899 --> 00:13.439 Exercise Cobra Gold . 00:18.040 --> 00:20.207 I'm Master Sergeant Matthew Hall . I'm 00:20.207 --> 00:22.040 with Task Force Ashley currently 00:22.040 --> 00:24.096 conducting Exercise Cobra Gold 26 in 00:24.096 --> 00:26.420 the Kingdom of Thailand . The strategic 00:26.420 --> 00:28.780 importance of this exercise is to show 00:28.780 --> 00:30.899 the interoperability between United 00:30.899 --> 00:33.066 States forces with our partner nations 00:33.066 --> 00:35.189 in the region . It shows that we are 00:35.189 --> 00:37.549 able to go into any domain in Southeast 00:37.549 --> 00:40.509 Asia and work with our partners no 00:40.509 --> 00:42.565 matter what we're tasked with and be 00:42.565 --> 00:44.731 able to seamlessly integrate with each 00:44.731 --> 00:46.565 other and accomplish a mission . 00:46.740 --> 00:48.900 Historically , this exercise has had 00:48.900 --> 00:51.067 around 2000 Marines participate in the 00:51.067 --> 00:53.659 previous years . This task force is 00:53.659 --> 00:56.459 made of just over 220 Marines , and 00:56.860 --> 00:59.360 these Marines were able to accomplish 00:59.500 --> 01:01.667 the tasks that would be normally given 01:01.667 --> 01:03.278 to a fully composited view . 01:14.620 --> 01:16.620 Operations from the sea is the most 01:16.620 --> 01:18.787 complex thing that we do in the Marine 01:18.787 --> 01:21.009 Corps . Being able to work side by side 01:21.009 --> 01:22.787 with our partners is a critical 01:22.787 --> 01:24.787 capability that we can bring to any 01:24.787 --> 01:24.779 fight . It's what the Marine Corps and 01:24.779 --> 01:27.260 Navy do . And doing that alongside of 01:27.260 --> 01:29.427 our partners really showed our ability 01:29.427 --> 01:31.019 to integrate and execute . 01:36.110 --> 01:38.166 As with any offensive operation , we 01:38.166 --> 01:40.054 immediately transitioned into the 01:40.054 --> 01:42.054 defense , uh , and what that looked 01:42.054 --> 01:44.110 like for Task Force Ashland with our 01:44.110 --> 01:46.221 partners was as soon as we seized the 01:46.221 --> 01:48.277 beach at the amphibious landing , we 01:48.277 --> 01:50.443 then moved and established a defensive 01:50.443 --> 01:52.443 position and prepared for any enemy 01:52.443 --> 01:54.443 counterattack or an attempted beach 01:54.443 --> 01:56.666 landing at the site we had just taken . 02:00.959 --> 02:03.181 Being able to get out here and train in 02:03.181 --> 02:05.403 Southeast Asia in this environment is a 02:05.403 --> 02:07.515 unique experience for the Marines and 02:07.515 --> 02:09.681 sailors of Ashland . Being here really 02:09.681 --> 02:11.737 gets us back to our amphibious roots 02:11.737 --> 02:13.792 where we're gonna have to operate in 02:13.792 --> 02:15.848 these littorals . Having the Marines 02:15.848 --> 02:18.070 exposed to that right now . Uh , really 02:18.070 --> 02:20.403 is going to pay dividends in the future . 02:20.403 --> 02:19.809 Learning how to survive in this 02:19.809 --> 02:22.031 environment with the different types of 02:22.031 --> 02:24.142 food that is available as well as the 02:24.142 --> 02:26.309 different types of animals , insects , 02:26.309 --> 02:28.142 snakes specifically , and how to 02:28.142 --> 02:30.198 properly handle those if encountered 02:30.198 --> 02:32.087 while moving through the jungle . 02:36.300 --> 02:38.411 This task force was purpose built for 02:38.411 --> 02:40.133 these non-combatant evacuation 02:40.133 --> 02:42.300 operations . During Cobra Gold , we're 02:42.300 --> 02:44.022 able to flex that capability , 02:44.022 --> 02:46.244 partnering with the Japanese , exchange 02:46.244 --> 02:48.380 these SOPs , these TTPs , and work 02:48.380 --> 02:50.380 through the problem itself with our 02:50.380 --> 02:52.436 entry control center operations , as 02:52.436 --> 02:54.658 well as working through the processes , 02:54.658 --> 02:56.713 what it takes to evacuate designated 02:56.713 --> 02:58.936 personnel after a disaster or any other 02:58.936 --> 03:01.300 crisis that could potentially emerge in 03:01.300 --> 03:03.022 any country across the world . 03:06.220 --> 03:08.331 During the maritime strike , 15th Vie 03:08.331 --> 03:10.460 worked alongside with the joint task 03:10.460 --> 03:12.293 force to command and control the 03:12.293 --> 03:14.516 operation . With that , we were able to 03:14.516 --> 03:16.071 leverage surface fires from 03:16.071 --> 03:18.238 multinational naval vessels as well as 03:18.238 --> 03:20.404 close air support provided from , uh , 03:20.404 --> 03:22.127 Army aviation assets as well . 03:27.529 --> 03:29.649 Marksmanship is a key foundation for 03:29.649 --> 03:32.630 any marine regardless of MOS . During 03:32.850 --> 03:34.906 Cobra Gold , the Marines and Sailors 03:34.906 --> 03:37.128 Task Force A participated in a modified 03:37.128 --> 03:39.300 combat marksmanship program , Table 5 03:39.300 --> 03:41.078 shoot . What this was doing was 03:41.078 --> 03:43.210 allowing them to confirm their 0 and 03:43.210 --> 03:45.729 then engaging target within 25 m 03:45.729 --> 03:47.889 leading up into our execution of the 03:47.889 --> 03:49.556 combined live fire exercise . 03:52.190 --> 03:54.134 The Caltex was the final live fire 03:54.134 --> 03:56.134 exercise during Cover Gold . During 03:56.134 --> 03:58.357 this , we were able to come together as 03:58.357 --> 04:00.468 a coalition force to defeat our enemy 04:00.468 --> 04:02.690 in zone . We were able to bring to bear 04:02.770 --> 04:05.289 multiple supporting arms assets to 04:05.289 --> 04:07.400 deliver that combined arms dilemma to 04:07.400 --> 04:11.139 the enemy . Additionally , the Koreans 04:11.139 --> 04:13.306 and Thais use their amphibious assault 04:13.306 --> 04:15.417 vehicles with our dismounted infantry 04:15.417 --> 04:17.361 Marines to provide that mechanized 04:17.361 --> 04:19.028 dilemma to the enemy itself . 04:22.250 --> 04:24.194 Working alongside our rock and tie 04:24.194 --> 04:26.250 partners was an amazing experience . 04:26.250 --> 04:28.306 We've come to have a common language 04:28.306 --> 04:30.361 and we're able to do that together , 04:30.361 --> 04:32.583 and that's war fighting , being able to 04:32.583 --> 04:34.583 do these events with our partners , 04:34.583 --> 04:36.750 we're able to really hone in our skill 04:36.750 --> 04:38.806 sets to accomplish really any of the 04:38.806 --> 04:40.861 other missions that we may be tasked 04:40.861 --> 04:40.010 with further on in deployment .