KORAT ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE BASE, Thailand -- Military personnel of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, Marine Air Control Squadron 4 Detachment B, Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Aircraft Group 36 and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 received a visit by Maj. Gen. William D. Beydler, 1st Marine Air Wing commanding general during Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 Jan 27.
Cobra Gold is a reoccurring multinational and multiservice exercise hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand. It is designed to advance regional security by exercising a multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region.
During Cobra Gold 2012 squadrons worked to improve mission readiness by training with allies in scenarios such as Royal Thai aircraft versus U.S. aircraft, U.S. and Royal Thai pilots working together to take out “enemies” on the ground by dropping ordnance and to complete semi-annual training for pilots.
Beydler’s visit included flying with VMFA (AW )-242 and visiting all the units, presenting challenge coins and patches to Marines.
These Marines were handpicked by their chain of command for their hard working and for exceeding the expectations set.
“The purpose is to see first hand how Marines and sailors of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing are performing in the exercise and to see them perform the skills that we expected they would execute in a range of operation that we could be expected to support III Marine Expeditionary Force with,” said Beydler.
With the high intensity of performing on operations, Marines and sailors are still working to build the relationship with the host country.
“These exercises bring people together,” said Beydler. “Anytime you work with the host country, whether it’s briefing or debriefing, you get to know them and know that we are able to respond here to support them.”
While their job doesn’t change based on location, the intensity during exercises does.
“Here, we are restricted to what we brought with us,” said Cpl. Kayla Trolio VMFA (AW )- 242 fixed-aircraft wing mechanic. “It is great training, the pilots get to train with host aircraft and pilots and we get to continue learning.”
Throughout the training evolution, squadrons worked to become proficient in surface-to-air exercises, daytime close-airsupport and air interdiction.
While deployed to strategic regions such as the Kingdom of Thailand, the training is often difficult, both in the air and on the ground.
Exercise Cobra Gold is a Thai and U.S. co-sponsored multinational, multiservice exercise that includes forces from Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and representatives from other countries in the region.