The annual combined Thai-U.S. exercise COBRA GOLD 97 brought more than 25,000 Thai and U.S. military forces together in 18 days of land, air, sea and amphibious operations. Here Lt. Gen. Vinit Krajangsont, Commanding General of the 4th Royal Thai Army, is briefed by U.S. 25th Infantry Division personnel on cross-training events.

The Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, Gen. Mongkon Ampornpisit, formally opened the 16th annual COBRA GOLD exercise between Thai and U.S. forces in the company of U.S. Ambassador William H. Itoh. COBRA GOLD 97 was designed to improve the combat readiness of Thai and U.S. military forces in joint, air, land, sea and amphibious operations. More than 25,000 Thai and U.S. military personnel participated in the 18-day event at 12 sites throughout Thailand's northern region, as well as the Gulf of Thailand. This was one of the largest deployments of U.S. Pacific Command forces in 1997.

Combined Training

Cross-training between Thai and American military personnel took many forms in COBRA GOLD 97, particularly in ground and amphibious operations. Royal Thai Army and U.S. Army helicopters conducted combined air assault operations, inserting Thai and U.S. infantry into an assault scenario in Tak Province. At Hat Yai Beach, Royal Thai Marines and U.S. Marines conducted a combined amphibious assault. A U.S. Navy LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion) participated in the assault, rapidly delivering equipment ashore.

On the sea, Thai and U.S. naval craft conducted support operations for this large-scale exercise, including F/A-18 flights from the deck of the U.S. Navy carrier USS Independence (CV-62). Okinawa-based C-17 aircraft of the U.S. Air Force airlifted tons of U.S. military equipment for U.S. exercise forces, demonstrating the mobility and reach of U.S. forces on behalf of a long-time friend and ally.

The cross-training and exercise operations were monitored by senior Thai military leaders. Lt. Gen. Vinit Krajangsont, Commanding General of the 4th Royal Thai Army, visited the field to observe cross-training between the two nations' soldiers. Lt. Gen. Tanom Wacharaput, Commander of the 3rd Army Area, visited the Tactical Operations Center of the U.S. 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry to receive briefings on the unit's operations in COBRA GOLD 97. Superb Thai-U.S. cooperation was displayed in every phase of the exercise.

In addition to major training accomplishments, COBRA GOLD 97 also produced stories of positive impact on individual participants and the Thai citizens who were touched by their activities. Some highlights follow.

Special Forces

In Sukhothai Province, in an orchard of mango trees on the outskirts of a remote village, a handful of Thai and U.S. Special Forces troops worked together to mold an enthusiastic group of junior military cadets into soldiers. U.S. Special Forces teamed with their Thai counterparts to train the more than 250 cadets in unconventional warfare.

"We're teaching them basic soldier skills like weapons training, camouflage techniques, equipment maintenance and squad movements," said U.S. Capt. Kenneth Webb, a team commander for one of four "guerrilla" bases where the would-be soldiers were put through a rigorous, daily training schedule.

The exercise provided excellent real-world benefits to all of the players involved. For the Americans the event exercised several of the Special Forces' five primary missions: unconventional warfare, direct action, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, and counter-terrorism.

Teaching unconventional warfare tactics to the Thai cadets provided realistic training for the U.S. Special Forces. With four to six instructors training 40-to-50 cadets at each of the four guerrilla bases, Capt. Webb described the interaction between the U.S. instructors and Thai students as outstanding.

Special Forces soldiers also assisted local villagers. During a five-day period, a general health practitioner and dentist offered free medical services for members of two rural communities, while a veterinarian treated their pets and livestock.

As the Thai and American instructors taught the cadets the art of unconventional warfare, the bonds between them, their armies, and their governments strengthened. From the grassroots level, these relationships help build greater security in the Asia-Pacific region, while helping to improve the lives of rural people.

Medical Care

In Ban Pa Bil Asa, there was a concerned look on the Thai woman's wrinkled face while she sat waiting for her turn in the dentist's chair. Her tooth had been hurting for so long she couldn't remember a time when it hadn't. Her mouth was already numb from the Novocaine shot the Thai dentist administered, but this was her first visit to a dentist, so she didn't quite trust the painkiller to work. She was still waiting for the pain to start when the dentist pulled her wisdom tooth out and put it on the tray. She was done.

Her discomfort and fear are familiar to rural villagers, for whom hospitals, dentists and opticians are too far away or too expensive. But members of the Thai-U.S. Medical Civil Action Project (MEDCAP) team brought the care to the people, and at no cost. The MEDCAP team was a mix of Thai military medics and Ministry of Public Health officials, and U.S. military medical personnel working together to provide immediate medical care to rural villagers who would not normally receive it.

MEDCAP team #2 visited 15 villages in northern Thailand. They provided tooth extractions, eye exams, general health care, veterinary care, physical therapy and diet instruction. They also taught classes on how to keep food and water supplies clean and free from contamination. Royal Thai Air Force Lt. Col. Varanya Yanasarn said she didn't know if any one clinic was more beneficial than another. She said, as a whole, the medical care was good for the villages. What it boils down to is that "we can help the people," she said. The villagers' reward was tangible; an end to pain.

Renovation

In the remote northern agricultural village of Ban Pikun Thong, a 10-year-old schoolgirl sits in a classroom struggling to pay attention to her teacher's grammar lesson. Although the young student, whose nickname is Jum, comes from a middle class family, she faces the same obstacle as her schoolmates. They all must learn in an old, run-down school with only a hot tin roof and weak walls that provide little shelter from the wind, rain and heat, making it difficult for the children to concentrate.

This has been the situation for the children of Wat Thatakhian elementary school for years. However, Thai and U.S. sailors and Thai village workers changed all of that through an engineering civic action project. They put on a new insulated roof, rebuilt the walls, added a new kitchen, installed water tanks, laid a new walkway and painted the exterior. The project was one of several engineering projects by Thai and American military engineers throughout Thailand during COBRA GOLD 97 to improve and build schools, day care centers and multi-purpose facilities.

"I'm proud and happy that we will have a good school building for the children," said Principal Tonglor Darayimlit, who visited the site every day to follow its progress. "I'm happy to have a new school because now we don't have to run away from the rain," Jum said. "Also, I'm proud and happy because the new building won't be too hot for us."

"The water tanks will provide the children with clean drinking water. Up to now, only dirty water was available," Somnuk Intuptim, a teacher at the school, said. "The refurbished school not only will provide a suitable learning environment, but will also motivate the children to learn because they are excited about the new facilities," Principal Darayimlit said. The school will also be used as a community center for meetings and holiday celebrations, he said. But Principal Darayimlit and the school's teachers agree that nothing compares with the benefit to the school's children. "It's a very, very good project. It's like a brother helping his sister to make a good place for us to learn," the village principal said.

Successful exercise

COBRA GOLD 97 featured extensive cross-training and concentrated on improving interoperability between the militaries of the two countries. It demonstrated the United States' support of a valued ally in the Asia-Pacific region. At both the governmental and personal levels, COBRA GOLD 97 served to strengthen the bonds between old friends.