Royal Thai Army (RTA) troops bear the flags of Thailand, Singapore, the United States, and observer countries at the opening ceremonies for the first tri-national COBRA-GOLD exercise, hosted in Thailand. Photo by SSgt. Stan Parker, USAF

An RTA soldier cooks a freshly killed king cobra snake as survival food for U.S. exercise participants during jungle survival training. Photo by SSgt. Stan Parker, USAF

A Thai armored artillery vehicle helps secure Khae Khae Beach during the combined amphibious assault exercise. Photo by SSgt. Stan Parker, USAF

Thai Marines conduct a beach landing during the combined RTM-USMC amphibious assault exercise.
Photo by Sgt. Angel Medina, US

A U.S. Navy Landing Craft Air Cushion disembarks an amphibious assault vehicle at the beach landing area.
Photo by Sgt. Angel Medina, USA

USMC Capt. Joe Moffet gives an exercise intelligence briefing to U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mitch Highfill and Royal Thai Navy Rear Adm. Wichai Juthapakdeepresert.

Royal Thai Navy doctors visit the medical store room of the USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) during COBRA GOLD cross-deck exchanges.
Photo by J03 Peggy Warren, USN

Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Sqdn. Ldr. Preeda Srivichien, USAF Capt. Al Fitts, and RTAF Flt. Lt. Sarawoot Vattanachai review plans for an exercise air drop. Capt. Fitts is a U.S. exchange pilot assigned to the RTAF’s 601st Squadron.
Photo by MSgt. Val Gempis, USAF

Sgt. Udom Malinunt, an RTA Special Operations Regiment jumpmaster, checks the parachute harness of A1C Zach Bruhn, a USAF 22nd Special Tactics Squadron member, in preparation for combined special operations training at Lop Buri, Thailand.

Gp. Capt. Preecha Pradabmook, Deputy Director of Policy and Plans, Operations Directorate of HQ RTAF, and Maj. Jeffrey J. McManus, International Defense Cooperation Requirements Officer of the Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group-Thailand, observe exercise activities at Don Muang Air Base, Thailand.
Photo by Msgt. Val gempis,USAF

Spec. James Starling of the U.S. 1st Battalion, 501st PIR, secures an airfield perimeter during a COBRA GOLD exercise noncombatant evacuation operation.
Photo by SSgt. Stan Parker, USAF

Soldiers of the U.S. 1st Battalion, 501st PIR perform an air insertion during Exercise COBRA GOLD.
Photo by Sgt. Angel Medina, USA

RTA soldiers teach U.S. Army troops valuable jungle survival skills. RTA 1st Lt. Pansak Thonguk demonstrates the use of one of several traps that can be made to catch small animals for food. Photo by PH2 Lena Gonzalez, USN

RTA Supreme Commander Gen. Mongkol Ampornpisit and U.S. Ambassador Richard A. Hecklinger open Exercise COBRA GOLD 2000 at Camp Wachirahwud, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand. U.S. Col. Lance Booth, then Chief, Joint U.S. Military Advisory Group, Thailand, stands in the rear. Photo by SSgt. Stan Parker, USAF

The Royal Thai Marines (RTM) and U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) have long experience in training together. USMC 2nd Lt. Michael Lorence and RTM Lt. Somchai, both combat engineers, discuss a demolition training exercise during COBRA GOLD. Photo by PH2 Lena Gonzalez, USN

A USMC amphibious assault vehicle prepares for the combined amphibious assault exercise.
Photo by Sgt. Angel Molina, USA

U.S. Marines rush a simulated wounded compatriot to a waiting U.S. Army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter for evacuation from the beach assault area.
Photo by SSgt. Stan Parker, USAF

His Royal Highness Sultan Ismail Petra, Sultan of Kelantan, Malaysia, and his wife, Her Royal Highness the Raja Perempuan of Kelantan Tengku Anis, visit the USS Juneau (LPD 10) to observe a rehearsal for the amphibious assault.
Photo by J02 Philip Acten, USNR

A USMC KC-130 refuels U.S. Marine F/A-18D Hornets during the amphibious assault exercise operations.
Photo by SSgt. Stan Parker, USAF

Two F-16s from RTAF Wing 1 taxi at Korat Air Base during COBRA GOLD air maneuvers.
Photo by SSgt. Jeffrey Clonkey, USAF

Flt. Lt. J. Kotkangplu, an RTAF Wing 4 F-16 pilot, prepares for COBRA GOLD air maneuvers at Korat Air Base, Thailand.
Photo by SSgt. Jeffrey Clonkey, USAF

RTA infantrymen cut through concertina wire during combat tactics training run by Alaska-based U.S. soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment (501st PIR).Photo by SSgt. Stan Parker, USAF

USMC 2nd Lt. Luke Gove, ground commander for a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel mission, calls the time before his CH-46 lands for the exercise maneuver.
Photo by PH2 Lena Gonzalez, USN

Lt. Cmdr. David Greenman, a U.S. Navy dentist, pulls the tooth of a patient during a Thai-U.S. medical civic action program in Ban Tab Sai village.
Photo by SSgt. Stan Parker, USAF

A1C Jennifer Wilkins, USAF, feeds a baby at an orphanage in Nakhon Si Thammarat, during a visit in which USAF personnel donated toys and clothing.
Photo by SSgt. Stan Parker, USAF