An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | Feb. 18, 2016

Cobra Gold 16: Lasting Friendship Built on Multinational Cooperation

By Staff Sgt. Jose O. Nava

BAN SA YAI, Thailand - Warm air blows gently through tents as children and adults wait for the start of the dedication ceremony for a one-room multi-purpose educational building Feb. 18 at Ban Sa Yai, Trat, Thailand. The ceremony brought a close to the work and effort of the Thai, U.S. and Malaysian military engineering teams during Exercise Cobra Gold 16.

Cobra Gold, in its 35th iteration, is the largest multinational exercise in Asia and is an integral part of the U.S. commitment to strengthen engagement and partnerships in the region.

The ceremony included performances from local school children, comments from distinguished visitors and the handing off of the building to the school.

The distinguished visitors that presided over the dedication ceremony were Royal Thai Army Gen. Wichien Sirisoonthorn, Royal Thai Armed Forces Headquarters; U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Russell Sanborn, commanding general of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force; Malaysian Army Lt. Col. Hj Adnan bin HJ Othman, Malaysian Armed Forces; and Mr. Channa Eiumsang, governor of Trat Province.

“I’d like to begin by extending my warmest “Thank You” to our Thai host and partners for the hospitality throughout Cobra Gold 2016,” said Sanborn, commanding general of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. “It has truly been an honor to train with our Thai counterparts and to be a part of one of the strongest alliances in the Indo-Asian Pacific region,” said Sanborn.

The construction at Ban Sa Yai was one of six humanitarian civic action projects in which Indo-Asian Pacific nation’s militaries worked together on the construction of vertical buildings and other civic programs to support security and humanitarian interests of friends and partner nations.

The engineer civic action projects have managed to improve the relationship between participating countries and we have shared experience and knowledge between the member teams involved, said Othman, Malaysian Armed Forces. The ENCAPs will strengthen the cooperation between international forces and enhance the confidence within the local community, said Othman.

The HCA programs helped to improve the quality of life, as well as the general health and welfare of civilian residents in the exercise areas. Community engagement and medical activities conducted during the exercise helped to support the needs and humanitarian interests of civilian populations around the region.

This year, Cobra Gold emphasized coordination on civic action, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, with the aim of expanding regional cooperation and collaboration in these vital areas with partner nations and allies.

“We have been partners with Thailand for more than 180 years, one of the great things about this relationship is that it keeps growing to include other nations,” said Sanborn. “Here at Ban Sa Yai we were able to partner with the Malaysians. We are happy to support the security and humanitarian interests of our friends and partner nations,” said Sanborn.

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
X
363,196
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
DIU Partners With AUKUS Pillar II for International Prize Challenge
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 26, 2024 - The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is launching the first trilateral prize challenge through AUKUS Pillar II— a defense and security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States (U.S.)— to...

Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Andrew Winternitz Concludes Trip to Japan for Pacific Islands Defense Dialogue
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 26, 2024 - Department of Defense spokesperson Lt. Col. Martin Meiners provided the following readout...

Marines, Sailors Participate in Holi Festival and Community Events at Tiger TRIUMPH
U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Maxwell Gallahan, center left, a platoon commander assigned to Weapons Company, Battalion Landing Team 1/5, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, participate in musical chairs at a community relations event during Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH in Visakhapatnam, India, March 22, 2024. Tiger TRIUMPH is a U.S.-India tri-service amphibious exercise focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief readiness and interoperability. Tiger TRIUMPH enables U.S. and Indian Armed Forces to improve interoperability and bilateral, joint, and service readiness in the Indian Ocean region and beyond to better achieve mutual regional security objectives. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Robert Nanna)
March 26, 2024 - Marines and Sailors of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit embraced India's culture during celebrations, athletic exchanges, and community relations engagements as they participate in Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH 2024...

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Minister of National Defence Judith Collins of New Zealand
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 25, 2024 - Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Ryder provided the following readout...

First of its kind deployment of Marine cyber forces to the INDO-PACOM Theater
Marines with Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command pose for photos in the cyber operations center at Lasswell Hall aboard Fort Meade, Maryland, Feb. 5, 2020. MARFORCYBER Marines conduct offensive and defensive cyber operations in support of United States Cyber Command and operate, secure and defend the Marine Corps Enterprise Network. This image is a photo illustration.
March 25, 2024 - Marines assigned to U.S. Marine Corps Forces Cyber Command deployed to Okinawa, Japan as part of the inaugural iteration of a new cyber rotational force concept...