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Personnel return full force

US Marine Corps News

3/1/2012 By Lance Cpl. Cayce Nevers, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan — Military personnel of Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadrons 242, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 115, Marine Air Control Squadron 4 Detachment B and Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 departed Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, Feb. 23 after supporting Exercise Cobra Gold 2012.

Exercise Cobra Gold is an annual multinational exercise which allows military personnel to conduct bilateral and unit level training with Thai Armed Forces, the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company.

During the first week of deployment, Marines and sailors set up and prepared for the beginning of the exercise.

Setup included prepping gear, maintaining aircraft and pilots performing familiarization flights.

Throughout the training evolution, squadrons worked to become proficient in air-to-surface exercises, daytime close air support and air interdiction.

“Cobra Gold is the U.S.’ largest multinational exercise and a major tool to build and maintain alliances,” said Maj. John M. Baseel, Cobra Gold 2012 action officer. “It represents one of our major training exercises to conduct air-to-ground training with the ground combat element of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and air-to-air training against dissimilar aircraft.”

Marines and sailors trained with units from all over the world to build strong ties with U.S. allies.

For 31 years, Cobra Gold has forged ties with U.S. allies.

“Cobra Gold is a way for us to build and strengthen the alliance between the U.S. and Thailand,” said Baseel.

Throughout the training, the tempo of the workload increased for those participating in the exercise.

“Cobra Gold is held annually to exercise our ability to deploy to a key strategic region and to test our interoperability with a long-term allied nation,” said Baseel.

This exercise also allows pilots to complete semi-annual training and learn how to maneuver aircraft to “enemy” attacks.

“The training conducted included airto- air training on small scales as well as Large Force Exercises involving 20 or more aircraft,” said Baseel.

While the U.S. works mainly with its Thai counterparts during the exercise, Cobra Gold requires many nations to run smoothly.

“Multiple units from the United States and other nations work together to make this exercise a success,” said Lt. Col. Richard E. Petersen, VMFA (AW )-242 commanding officer. “Nations include the United States, the Kingdom of Thailand, Japan, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia.”

While deployed, Marines and sailors had the opportunity to leave base and experience cultures other than their own.

Marines took trips to temples and other historic places.

“Humanitarian assistance and community relations activities enable our military forces to break cultural barriers, train together and improve interoperability while providing vital services to areas in need,” said Petersen.

The closing ceremony of Exercise Cobra Gold 2012 ended this year’s exercise.

Exercise Cope Tiger is slated for April. Exercise Cope Tiger is a multinational exercise where the U.S., Thailand and Singapore work together to strengthen ties between the countries and learn from other’s abilities.