Pacific Marines Stories

Lance Cpl. Johnathan Ziolek, a Walton, IN native, talks Thai Private Poempoon Kanjanapakornchai onto the target while firing M240B Medium Machine gun Feb. 12 at Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand during Exercise Cobra Gold. Cobra Gold is designed to advance regional security and ensure effective response to regional crises by exercising a robust multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific Region. Kanjanapakornchai and the Royal Thai Marines are with 3rd Company, 7th Battalion, Royal Thai Marine Corps. Ziolek is a machine-gunner with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program. - Lance Cpl. Johnathan Ziolek, a Walton, IN native, talks Thai Private Poempoon Kanjanapakornchai onto the target while firing M240B Medium Machine gun Feb. 12 at Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand during Exercise Cobra Gold. Cobra Gold is designed to advance regional security and ensure effective response to regional crises by exercising a robust multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific Region. Kanjanapakornchai and the Royal Thai Marines are with 3rd Company, 7th Battalion, Royal Thai Marine Corps. Ziolek is a machine-gunner with Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program.

Thai and U.S. Marines burst into training

The sun peaks over the mountainous jungle terrain of Thailand, while a rapid burst of hollow thunks echoes in the distance.The sounds continue in rhythmic spurts, then suddenly stop, followed by a series of explosions down-range moments later.U.S. Marines demonstrated various machine gun weapons systems to Royal Thai Marines Feb. 12 at Ban Chan

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Two Royal Thai reconnaissance Marines rub bamboo together in an effort to create a fire Feb. 14 at Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand during Exercise Cobra Gold. The course includes knowledge on what vegetation are edible, tips on how to collect water and deal with venomous wildlife. The Marines are with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment currently assigned to 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program. - Two Royal Thai reconnaissance Marines rub bamboo together in an effort to create a fire Feb. 14 at Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand during Exercise Cobra Gold. The course includes knowledge on what vegetation are edible, tips on how to collect water and deal with venomous wildlife. The Marines are with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment currently assigned to 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program.

Marines face fears to survive

Marines gathered closely as Pairoj Prasansai, affectionately known as “the snake man”, pulled two venomous Thai cobras out of a crate with his bare hands.“The snake man” dropped the cobras at his feet to start his famous snake charming demonstration during a jungle survival class given to U.S. Marines at Exercise Cobra Gold.The class begins with

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Two Buddhist Monks confess their day's transgressions to Buddha Feb. 15 at Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand. U.S. Marines attended a dinner hosted by Royal Thai Marines on the temple grounds during Exercise Cobra Gold 2014. Exercise Cobra Gold is a multinational and multiservice exercise that takes place annually in the Kingdom of Thailand and was developed by the Thai and U.S. militaries. The Thai Marines are with 3rd Company, 7th Battalion with the Royal Thai Marine Corps. The U.S. Marines are with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program. - Two Buddhist Monks confess their day's transgressions to Buddha Feb. 15 at Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand. U.S. Marines attended a dinner hosted by Royal Thai Marines on the temple grounds during Exercise Cobra Gold 2014. Exercise Cobra Gold is a multinational and multiservice exercise that takes place annually in the Kingdom of Thailand and was developed by the Thai and U.S. militaries. The Thai Marines are with 3rd Company, 7th Battalion with the Royal Thai Marine Corps. The U.S. Marines are with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment currently assigned to 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force under the unit deployment program.

Lance Cpl. Beto A. Chavarria leaps to a low profile position Feb. 12 at Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand during Exercise Cobra Gold. Cobra Gold is a multinational and multiservice exercise, which takes place annually in the Kingdom of Thailand and was developed by the Thai and U.S. militaries. The day's training evolution consisted of Royal Thai Marines and U.S. Marines practicing various jungle patrolling tactics, techniques and procedures. Chavarria is a rifleman with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, which is currently attached to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, as part of the Marine Corps' unit deployment program. - Lance Cpl. Beto A. Chavarria leaps to a low profile position Feb. 12 at Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand during Exercise Cobra Gold. Cobra Gold is a multinational and multiservice exercise, which takes place annually in the Kingdom of Thailand and was developed by the Thai and U.S. militaries. The day's training evolution consisted of Royal Thai Marines and U.S. Marines practicing various jungle patrolling tactics, techniques and procedures. Chavarria is a rifleman with Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, which is currently attached to 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, as part of the Marine Corps' unit deployment program.

Royal Thai Marines, US Marines train in jungle

Royal Thai and U.S. Marines conducted aerial-insertions and jungle patrol training Feb. 12 at Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand during Exercise Cobra Gold 2014.The purpose of the training was to further familiarize the Royal Thai Marines and U.S. Marines with the basic tactics, techniques and procedures of jungle warfare. “Today a platoon of

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Thai students, community come together to paint school during Cobra Gold 2014

Children lined up anxiously, crowding in closer to Singapore Army 1st. Sgt. Kenneth Soh, who held up a bright blue paint brush. The first student came forward and nervously grabbed the handle, Soh patiently helped with the first few strokes of the brush. In short order, the entire building was surrounded by children laughing and painting.Royal Thai

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Republic of Korea Cpl. Kim Seungju dumps wall plaster into a wheel barrow as U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Shianne M. Chlupacek observes Feb. 10 at Wut Khun Song school near Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand. U.S. service members joined forces with Royal Thai Marines and Republic of Korea Marines for a community relations project which started Jan. 25 and is expected to be completed Feb. 20. The program is part of Exercise Cobra Gold 2014, a multinational and multiservice exercise that takes place annually in the Kingdom of Thailand and was developed by the Thai and U.S. militaries. Seungju is a combat engineer with 1st Engineer Battalion, ROK Marine Division. Chlupacek is a steelworker with Seabees’ Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, 1st Naval Construction Group. - Republic of Korea Cpl. Kim Seungju dumps wall plaster into a wheel barrow as U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Shianne M. Chlupacek observes Feb. 10 at Wut Khun Song school near Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand. U.S. service members joined forces with Royal Thai Marines and Republic of Korea Marines for a community relations project which started Jan. 25 and is expected to be completed Feb. 20. The program is part of Exercise Cobra Gold 2014, a multinational and multiservice exercise that takes place annually in the Kingdom of Thailand and was developed by the Thai and U.S. militaries. Seungju is a combat engineer with 1st Engineer Battalion, ROK Marine Division. Chlupacek is a steelworker with Seabees’ Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, 1st Naval Construction Group.

Cobra Gold 14 allies build classrooms for Thai elementary school

U.S. service members joined forces with Royal Thai and Republic of Korea Marines Feb. 10 to build new classrooms for Wut Khun Song school near Ban Chan Krem, Kingdom of Thailand.The community relations program started Jan. 25 and is expected to be completed Feb. 20. The program is part of Exercise Cobra Gold 2014, which is a recurring multinational

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Thai, Korean and US Recon Marines Take Part in Small Boat Training

“One... two… three…!” yelled a U.S. Marine while standing on a capsized zodiac boat in the middle of the water preparing to upright the boat by leaning back and pulling on the rope. With the weight being too much for one person to handle, he had the aid of his foreign brothers-in-arms. With the assistance of the Korean and Royal Thai Marines, the

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Royal Thai Army 2nd Lt. Suchat and U.S. service members visited the Phitsanulok Provincial Sports Complex Feb. 8 in Phitsanulok, Kingdom of Thailand, to better understand the complex's disaster response capabilities during Exercise Cobra Gold 2014. CG 14, in its 33rd iteration, demonstrates the U.S. and the Kingdom of Thailand's commitment to their long-standing alliance and regional partnership, prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region. The U.S. service members are with the civil affairs element assigned to the Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force. - Royal Thai Army 2nd Lt. Suchat and U.S. service members visited the Phitsanulok Provincial Sports Complex Feb. 8 in Phitsanulok, Kingdom of Thailand, to better understand the complex's disaster response capabilities during Exercise Cobra Gold 2014. CG 14, in its 33rd iteration, demonstrates the U.S. and the Kingdom of Thailand's commitment to their long-standing alliance and regional partnership, prosperity and security in the Asia-Pacific region. The U.S. service members are with the civil affairs element assigned to the Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force.