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U.S. Conducts CPX with Thailand, Singapore During Cobra Gold

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060523-22
5/23/2006

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Adam R. Cole, Task Force 76 Public Affairs

UTAPAO, Thailand (NNS) -- Navy personnel from the United States, Thailand and Singapore began the naval portion of a command post exercise (CPX) to simulate United Nations-endorsed peace keeping operations being conducted in Utapao, Thailand, as part of Cobra Gold 2006, May 17.

The CPX is based on possible real-world scenarios described under the Global Peace Operations Initiative and also enhances interoperability among the three nations, which is the emphasis of Cobra Gold.

“What we are seeing is coalition building between U.S.-Thai-Singaporean forces that will pay major dividends in future operations,” said Cdr. Lowell D. Crow, U.S. Navy Force chief of staff for Cobra Gold and deputy chief of staff for Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76. “Overall, I think the biggest breakthroughs we are making is in understanding and overcoming cultural differences to create a common understanding of what each force brings to the fight.”

In the simulation, ground forces of a fictional nation state, Sonora, have mobilized to occupy disputed territory between it and another fictional nation state, Tierra Del Oro. Tierra Del Oro reacts to the troop movements by deploying its naval forces along the coastline of Sonora, blockading commercial ships from coming in and out.

The mission of the U.S.-Thai-Singapore Combined Naval Force, an element of the Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF), is to tactically deploy a series of naval battle groups in order to create a Maritime Exclusion Zone that will yield freedom of the seas and allow merchant traffic to continue.

The ultimate goal of the CJTF, headed by Royal Thai Lt. Gen. Kesakomol Jirasith operating out of Nakhon Nayok, and with U.S. Lt. Gen. James M. Dubik as the deputy commander and the U.S. joint task force commander, is to create a stand-down by both forces and then deploy peace keepers in the region so that the peace can be sustained.

While the simulation presents a situation that may be very real-world, participants say that it is not about the particulars of the simulation but rather working with their counterparts from other nations that is important.

“This is my first time interacting in an operational environment like this with people from Thailand and Singapore,” said Operations Specialist 3rd Class Tyler D. Cooper, who updates the common operational picture during the exercise. “It is a learning process, but each day we learn a little bit more about each other and about the platforms we are working with. This exercise shows us how much we need to work together to achieve a common goal.”

Military service members from other nations shared similar thoughts.

“This scenario has forced us to make a lot of tactical decisions. We have had to rely on each other and work with each other to make the best decisions possible,” said Lt. Suchat Kreawparuk of the Royal Thai Navy.

“We are grateful for this experience to learn from U.S. and Thailand counterparts,” said Capt. K.S. NG of Singapore’s navy. “This is a massive and complicated challenge, so we are glad to have counterparts to help complete it.”

It may be just a simulation, but progress is tangible and evident. Such progress leads to real camaraderie as U.S.-Thai-Singapore counterparts shake each other’s hands at the end of each watch.

Task Force 76 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force and is headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.