US and Thai military prepare
for Cobra Gold 2000

    Although Cobra Gold 2000, the annual joint military exercise between US and Thai forces, doesn’t officially start until May 9th, a tremendous amount of logistics work is needed to ensure smooth operations during the huge yearly exercise. This pictorial tribute is devoted to the many men and women in uniform, both Thai and American, who work long hours moving the massive amount of equipment into place so that when the operation begins, everything is ready to go.


(Left) Lance Cpl. Andy Darnell, 19, of Wellsville, Kansas, stands guard at the Royal Thai Navy Ammunition Pier Trongproon, Thailand. Darnell is assigned to the 2nd FAST (Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team) Company, 1st Platoon out of Yokosuka, Japan. The FAST team is in Thailand providing security for vessels contracted by Military Sealift Command, Far East. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)

 

(Right) The first of 216 US Army vehicles rolls off the Military Sealift Command chartered ship, Maersk Constellation for use in the 19th annual Exercise Cobra Gold, which kicks off May 9th.

Marine Cpl. Greg Peck, 2nd FAST Company, 1st Platoon, scans the Joint Command and Control area at the Royal Thai Navy port in Chuc Sa Met, Thailand. Peck is a sniper for the Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team based in Yokosuka, Japan and is supporting Military Sealift Command, Far East shipping operations in Thailand. (Official U. S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)
(left)Thai stevedores load a weapons canister from the Military Sealift Command chartered vessel, Alam Tegas at the Royal Thai Navy Ammunition Pier Trongproon, Thailand. MSC chartered the vessels to transport vehicles, ammunition and equipment to Thailand for use in Exercise Cobra Gold 2000. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)

 

(Right)One of 216 US Army vehicles is craned off the Military Sealift Command chartered ship, Maersk Constellation for use in the 19th annual Exercise Cobra Gold.

Army Staff Sgt. Joe Peck of the Military Traffic Management Command Tiger-Team, explains the procedures for the equipment off-load at the Royal Thai Navy port in Chuck Sa Met, Thailand, during an interview by Photographer’s Mate 1st Class (AW/NAC) Daniel Smith of Fleet Combat Camera Group Pacific. Both units are in Thailand participating in Exercise Cobra Gold 2000. (Official U. S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)
(Left) Photographer’s Mate 1st Class (AW/NAC) Daniel Smith of Fleet Combat Camera Group Pacific interviews Lt. Cmdr. John Schommer, executive officer MSCO Thailand, about the involvement of the Military Sealift Command, Far East in Exercise Cobra Gold 2000.

 

(Right) Air Force 1st Lt. Sean Mirus (L) and Staff Sgt. Bill Quick, of the 615th AMOS (Air Mobility Operations Squadron) adjust the satellite dish that serves as the primary communications link to the United States. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)

Army Staff Sgt. Miwon Matchett, of the 837th Transportation Battalion, Pusan, Korea, scans a bar code from one of the vehicles being transported into the Royal Thai Navy port in Chuck Sa Met, Thailand for use in Exercise Cobra Gold 2000. Matchett is one of several soldiers responsible for maintaining accurate vehicle inventory. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)
(Left) Air Force Staff Sgt. Freddie Lopez (left) and Staff Sgt. Bill Quick (right) double-check the safety harness for 1st Lt. Sean Mirus, prior to a 220 foot tower climb to repair a communications dish destroyed by a lightning strike. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)

 

(Right) Lance Cpl. Geroid Coleman, 20, from Coxsacki, New York keeps watch over the security perimeter at the Royal Thai Navy port in Chuck Sa Met, Thailand. Coleman is assigned to the 2nd FAST (Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team) Company, 1st Platoon, providing security for U. S. Forces carrying out the offload of cargo, vehicles and supplies. The Yokosuka, Japan, based team is supporting Military Sealift Command, Far East during Thailand shipping operations. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)

 

Air Force 1st Lt. Sean Mirus climbs to the top of a 220 foot tower to repair a communications dish destroyed by a lightning strike. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)
(Left) Air Force Staff Sgt. Dave Richardson, 30, of the 615th Air Mobility Operations Squadron (AMOS), performs maintenance on a generator vital to the operation of the Pierside Communication Center at the Royal Thai Navy port in Chuck Sa Met, Thailand. The AMOS is responsible for providing various communications systems for units involved in port operations supporting Exercise Cobra Gold 2000. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)

 

 

(Right) Information Technology Specialist 2nd Class (AW) Reggie Ellis, assigned to the Mobile Sealift Operations Center at the Royal Thai Navy port in Chuck Sa Met, Thailand, continues the tradition of raising the Military Sealift Command flag. Ellis, originally from San Diego, Calif. is in Thailand participating in Exercise Cobra Gold 2000. (Official U. S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)

U. S. Army vehicles and cargo continue to off-load from the Military Sealift Command chartered M/V Maersk Constellation at the Royal Thai Navy port in Chuck Sa Met, Thailand. The cargo, vehicles and supplies are for units participating in Exercise Cobra Gold 2000. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)


(Left) Air Force 1st Lt. Sean Mirus begins climbing to the top of a 220 foot tower to repair a communications dish destroyed by a lightning strike. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)

 

 

(Right) Thai stevedores (cargo handlers) connect a U. S. Army generator to a cargo crane aboard Military Sealift Command chartered MV Maersk Constellation at the Royal Thai Navy port in Chuck Sa Met, Thailand. The Constellation transported equipment to Thailand for units participating in Exercise Cobra Gold 2000. (Official U. S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)

Lance Cpl. Patrick McIntyre, 20, of Worcester, Mass., keeps watch over the security perimeter entrance at the Royal Thai Navy port in Chuck Sa Met, Thailand. McIntyre is assigned to the 2nd FAST (Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team) Company, 1st Platoon, providing security for U. S. Forces carrying out the offload of cargo, vehicles and supplies. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)
(Left) Thai stevedore, Jum Nong from Sattahip, Thailand, pulls a mooring line from the Military Sealift Command chartered M/V National Honor into position at the Royal Thai Navy port in Chuck Sa Met. The National Honor is bringing cargo, vehicles and supplies into Thailand for U. S. Forces participating in Exercise Cobra Gold 2000. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)

 

(Right) Air Force 1st Lt. Sean Mirus, of the 615th AMOS (Air Mobility Operations Squadron), adjusts the satellite dish that serves as the primary communications link to the United States. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)

Air Force Staff Sgt. Freddie Lopez, of the 615th AMOS (Air Mobility Operations Squadron) makes adjustments to the satellite dish that serves as the primary communications link to the United States. The 615th AMOS is at the Royal Thai Navy port in Chuck Sa Met, Thailand, providing communications support to the units involved in the build-up for Exercise Cobra Gold 2000. (Official U.S. Navy photo by JO1 Craig P. Strawser)