MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Exercise Cobra Gold 2010, a multi-lateral exercise demonstrating joint and multinational capabilities, and improving interoperability between the United States and Thailand, came to a close with the main body of Marines departing Thailand Feb. 20.
Although there was no official closing ceremony, the exercise ended Feb. 11. However, Marines and sailors were still conducting training until their final departure.
Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, Marine Aircraft Group 12, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 and Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242 all participated in the 10-day exercise with units from other bases around the world.
Exercise Cobra Gold 2010 provided the VMFA(AW)-242 and VMFA-115 pilots an opportunity to put their training to the test against the Thai Royal Air Force’s F-16 as well as other aircraft.
“It gives the pilots the opportunity to practice,” said Gunnery Sgt. Tarik Fleming, VMFA (AW)-242 ordnance technician. “It helps their proficiency when they go out and actually shoot or drop live weapons/high explosive weapons.”
Cobra Gold 2010 differed from previous years due to the Republic of Korea’s Marine Corps involvement in the annual exercise. U.S. Marines, Thai Marines and Republic of Korea Marines all combined for an ultimate show of Marine Corps strength and skill at Ban Chan Khrem, Thailand.
Ban Chan Khrem is highly important to the mission because it allowed all three services to live side by side, eat together, work together and, most importantly, overcome cultural differences and communication barriers.
Communication barriers seemed to be the biggest obstacle to overcome during the exercise.
The U.S. and Thai military set up numerous events for Marines, sailors and airmen to interact, such as meet and greets and soccer games.
The MAG-12 chaplain, Lt. Cmdr. Denis Cox, set up over 15 community relations projects in which Marines and sailors were encouraged to visit the local community and represent the United States as ambassadors, something every Marine and sailor is while serving overseas.
The community relations projects took place almost every day the Marines and sailors were in Thailand, from just visiting a youth Thai prison to constructing a basketball court from scratch.
The exercise was an overall success and beneficial for all militaries involved.
From start to finish the Marines and sailors who participated in Cobra Gold 2010 hit the ground running and strengthened the relationship and interoperability between all countries involved.