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Thai and U.S. Marines train together in basic Military Operations Urban Terrain (MOUT) tactics during Exercise COBRA GOLD. Photo by GySgt. Marlon J. Martin, USMC

Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Operations

In the city of Sa Kaeo, 60 Thai soldiers learned masking, demasking, and decontamination procedures from U.S soldiers before participating in a nuclear, biological, and chemical exercise. "They are knowledgeable instructors," said Sgt. Payont Sak of the Royal Thai Army.

Non-combatant Evacuation Operation

Thai Marines from the Royal Thai Marine Psychological Operation (PSYOP) Center worked side by side with a U.S. Army PSYOP company in a non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) exercise aboard the USS Essex (LHD 2). "Basically, a NEO is to evacuate citizens and get them out of harm’s way in a foreign country," said U.S. Army Maj. Chris Dooley.

During the operation, PSYOP teams distributed information to the citizens they would evacuate. "We have many ways of getting our message across. We can pre-record messages on digital voice recorders, drop off leaflets, or even intercept radio and television signals with our own messages," said U.S. Army Sgt. Richard Wilson. Royal Thai Marine PO1 Surasak Imaem said, "I’ve learned a lot about using different equipment. I like seeing new methods of doing things. The [American] soldiers are serious about their jobs and are very well organized."