Pacific Marines Stories

Royal Thai Marine Petty Officer 2nd Class Jatupol Punpara stands at parade rest with his unit’s flag Feb. 11 while waiting the opening ceremony to begin at Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand, for exercise Cobra Gold 2013’s field training exercises. Cobra Gold is a recurring, multinational and multiservice exercise hosted annually by Thailand and developed by the Thai and U.S. militaries. CG 13 also includes humanitarian and civic assistance projects and a staff exercise. Punpara is an infantryman with 3rd battalion, 1st Infantry, Royal Thai Marines. - Royal Thai Marine Petty Officer 2nd Class Jatupol Punpara stands at parade rest with his unit’s flag Feb. 11 while waiting the opening ceremony to begin at Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand, for exercise Cobra Gold 2013’s field training exercises. Cobra Gold is a recurring, multinational and multiservice exercise hosted annually by Thailand and developed by the Thai and U.S. militaries. CG 13 also includes humanitarian and civic assistance projects and a staff exercise. Punpara is an infantryman with 3rd battalion, 1st Infantry, Royal Thai Marines.

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Raquel C. Bono, command surgeon, U.S. Pacific Command, left, and Thai Army Lt. Gen. Phanuvich Pumhirun, Royal Thai Army Medical Department, exchanged gifts Feb. 14 at a healthcare symposium in Chiang Mai province, Kingdom of Thailand, during exercise Cobra Gold 2013. The daylong multinational symposium allowed subject matter experts to exchange medical best practices to increase the efficacy of collective efforts to combat dengue fever, melioidosis and other diseases common to Southeast Asia. Exercise Cobra Gold is the largest multinational exercise in the Asia-Pacific region and provides the Kingdom of Thailand, United States, Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and observer nations an opportunity to maintain relationships and enhance interoperability. - U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Raquel C. Bono, command surgeon, U.S. Pacific Command, left, and Thai Army Lt. Gen. Phanuvich Pumhirun, Royal Thai Army Medical Department, exchanged gifts Feb. 14 at a healthcare symposium in Chiang Mai province, Kingdom of Thailand, during exercise Cobra Gold 2013. The daylong multinational symposium allowed subject matter experts to exchange medical best practices to increase the efficacy of collective efforts to combat dengue fever, melioidosis and other diseases common to Southeast Asia. Exercise Cobra Gold is the largest multinational exercise in the Asia-Pacific region and provides the Kingdom of Thailand, United States, Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and observer nations an opportunity to maintain relationships and enhance interoperability.

A U.S. Marine infantry automatic rifleman takes a knee and sends rounds down range during a live-fire platoon attack drill alongside U.S. Marines Feb. 13 in Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand, during the field training portion of exercise Cobra Gold 2013. CG 13, in its 32nd iteration, is an annual Thai-U.S. co-sponsored exercise, which focuses on interoperability of forces and readiness, bolstering national partnerships and regional security in the Asia-Pacific region. The U.S. Marine is with Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. The battalion is attached to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, as part of the Marine Corps unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew A. Callahan) - A U.S. Marine infantry automatic rifleman takes a knee and sends rounds down range during a live-fire platoon attack drill alongside U.S. Marines Feb. 13 in Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand, during the field training portion of exercise Cobra Gold 2013. CG 13, in its 32nd iteration, is an annual Thai-U.S. co-sponsored exercise, which focuses on interoperability of forces and readiness, bolstering national partnerships and regional security in the Asia-Pacific region. The U.S. Marine is with Company A, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines. The battalion is attached to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, as part of the Marine Corps unit deployment program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Matthew A. Callahan)

Multinational service members participating in a senior enlisted team-building activity receive a range brief prior to touring the live-fire range in Phitsanulok province, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 12 during exercise Cobra Gold 2013. The two-day seminar allowed attendees to share past experiences, relate training styles, and offer advice to one another in a shared learning environment. Exercise Cobra Gold is the largest multinational exercise in the Asia-Pacific region and provides Thailand, the U.S., Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia an opportunity to maintain relationships and enhance interoperability. - Multinational service members participating in a senior enlisted team-building activity receive a range brief prior to touring the live-fire range in Phitsanulok province, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 12 during exercise Cobra Gold 2013. The two-day seminar allowed attendees to share past experiences, relate training styles, and offer advice to one another in a shared learning environment. Exercise Cobra Gold is the largest multinational exercise in the Asia-Pacific region and provides Thailand, the U.S., Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia an opportunity to maintain relationships and enhance interoperability.

U.S. Marine Maj. Gerard Fontenot, left, shares a laugh with Paul, a child living at the Thailand Children's Home in Nakhon Ratchasima, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 9 before the start of exercise Cobra Gold 2013. U.S. Marine and sailors with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing visited the home during a community relations event to help support the needs of the children. U.S. involvement in CG 13 demonstrates commitment to building military-to-military interoperability with participating nations and to supporting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Fontenot is a liaison officer with the live fly cell, 1st MAW, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - U.S. Marine Maj. Gerard Fontenot, left, shares a laugh with Paul, a child living at the Thailand Children's Home in Nakhon Ratchasima, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 9 before the start of exercise Cobra Gold 2013. U.S. Marine and sailors with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing visited the home during a community relations event to help support the needs of the children. U.S. involvement in CG 13 demonstrates commitment to building military-to-military interoperability with participating nations and to supporting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. Fontenot is a liaison officer with the live fly cell, 1st MAW, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

U.S. Marines from Combat Logistics Regiment 3 attach ventilation tubes to an air conditioner for their combat operations center Feb. 9 at Camp Samaesan in Sattahip, Kingdom of Thailand. The COC will facilitate communications between logistics units throughout the country during exercise Cobra Gold 2013. The exercise is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored multinational, multiservice exercise that includes forces from Thailand, the U.S., Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, and observers from other countries in the region. CLR- 3 is a part of 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force. - U.S. Marines from Combat Logistics Regiment 3 attach ventilation tubes to an air conditioner for their combat operations center Feb. 9 at Camp Samaesan in Sattahip, Kingdom of Thailand. The COC will facilitate communications between logistics units throughout the country during exercise Cobra Gold 2013. The exercise is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored multinational, multiservice exercise that includes forces from Thailand, the U.S., Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia, and observers from other countries in the region. CLR- 3 is a part of 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

A suction hose moves water pulled from the ocean to the tactical water purification system where the salt will be removed and it will pass through a series of filters making it safe to drink. U.S. Marines from 3rd Marine Logistics Group purified saltwater Feb. 10 to provide clean water to multinational participants at various locations throughout Thailand during exercise Cobra Gold 2013. Cobra Gold, in its 32nd iteration, is a multinational exercise that promotes regional prosperity, security and cooperation among partner militaries. 3rd MLG is part of III Marine Expeditionary Force. - A suction hose moves water pulled from the ocean to the tactical water purification system where the salt will be removed and it will pass through a series of filters making it safe to drink. U.S. Marines from 3rd Marine Logistics Group purified saltwater Feb. 10 to provide clean water to multinational participants at various locations throughout Thailand during exercise Cobra Gold 2013. Cobra Gold, in its 32nd iteration, is a multinational exercise that promotes regional prosperity, security and cooperation among partner militaries. 3rd MLG is part of III Marine Expeditionary Force.