Marines and Sailors with the 31st Marine
Expeditionary Unit disembark a Landing Craft Utility Feb. 8, to
participate in exercise Cobra Gold 2011.
(Photo by Lance Cpl. Garry J. Welch)
Cpl. Michael A.
Bianco, 31st MEU
Hat Yao Beach - Marines and sailors of the 31st
Marine Expeditionary Unit arrived in the Kingdom of Thailand Feb. 7 in
preparation for the MEU’s participation in exercise Cobra Gold 2011,
Feb. 7-18.
In the early morning hours, service members left the
well deck of USS Essex (LHD 2) via landing craft utility and landing
craft air cushioned. Vehicles, artillery equipment and other gear were
also a part of the off-load.
The MEU is participating in several training events
including a mechanized amphibious assault and helicopter raids. Along
with the training evolutions, the Marines and sailors are also conduct
engineering, medical and dental civil assistance projects and community
relation events.
Logistics Marines, along with sailors of the Essex
Amphibious Ready Group, have been working around the clock to ensure a
smooth transition from ship to shore.
“It’s been a long process, but we are making
excellent time and everything is running efficiently,” said Pfc. Aaron
Gudex, a landing support specialist with Combat Logistics Battalion 31,
31st MEU. “This is my first time in Thailand and it’s already been a
great experienced just to be able to help coordinate the movement of
troops.”
For three decades, Thailand has hosted Cobra Gold and
has made it one of the largest land-based, joint, combined military
training exercises in the world. Cobra Gold originally was a bilateral
exercise between Thailand and the U.S., but has grown to include Japan,
Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and South Korea as full participants, as
well as dozens of other countries as official observers.
This training evolution also ensures the region is
adequately prepared for humanitarian disasters, such as the December
2004 Indian Ocean tsunami or Cyclone Nargis in May 2008.
The U.S. and Thailand enjoy a long and successful
history of cooperation across a large number of issues including
security, law enforcement, public health, and trade and investment.
Thailand and the United States’ friendship dates back to March 20, 1833
when the Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed.
