CAMP BAN CHAN KREM, Thailand -- U.S. service members and Thai Marines participated in jungle survival training Feb. 16-17, 2017 at Ban Chan Krem, Thailand as a part of Cobra Gold 17. Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion 4, 3rd Transport Support Battalion and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, as well as Airmen from 5th Air Support Operations Squadron, learned about edible jungle vegetation and wildlife, as well as how to find water and avoid dangerous animals in survival scenarios.

Survival training is tailored to how many Marines are present, and their level of experience in survival training, which includes finding edible plants and clean water; plants that can be used as medicine for illness, bites and wounds; as well as how to trap and kill wild animals for food.

“It’s really important for U.S. Marines to know how to survive in the jungle,” said Chief Petty Officer 1st Class Pairoj Prasansai, a jungle survival training instructor with the Royal Thai Reconnaissance Battalion. “The first things they need to know is how to find water and food. If they can do that, they can survive.”

Prasansai has taught thousands of Thai and U.S. military in jungle survival skills over the past decade, and says this training is the difference between life and death for any Marine who has to train or fight in the jungle.

“Training U.S. Marines is in my blood,” Prasansai said. “I have been teaching Marines for years and many Marines know who I am from this training. I was born to do this, and I will train them in the best ways with my best knowledge.”

For Cpl. Richard Alston, a squad leader with 1st Platoon, Echo Company, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 31st MEU, going through the training alongside the Thai Marines was a rewarding experience.

“I’m glad we all got the chance to experience this with the Thai Marines,” Alston said. “I feel this really gave us all a chance to bond over some really fun and informative training.”

Cobra Gold, in its 36th iteration, is the largest Theater Security Cooperation exercise in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. This year’s focus is to advance regional security and ensure effective responses to regional crises by bringing together a robust multinational force to address shared goals and security commitments in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.