DTN News: Cobra Gold 2010 Joint Exercise February 1-11, 2010 In Thailand

DTN News: Cobra Gold 2010 Joint Exercise February 1-11, 2010 In Thailand *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) BANGKOK Thailand - February 1, 2010: The armed forces of Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Republic of Korea, Indonesia, and the United States today announced their participation in the Cobra Gold joint military exercise in Thailand from February 1-11, 2010. Cobra Gold is a regularly scheduled joint and coalition multi-national exercise hosted annually by the Kingdom of Thailand. A U.S. Army contingent marches during the opening ceremony of the annual joint "Cobra Gold 2010" (CG10) military exercise at U-tapao airport in Rayong province February 1, 2010. About 14,073 soldiers from six countries, Thailand, U.S. , Singapore Indonesia, Japan and South Korea are participating in the three-week military exercise.

Cobra Gold 2010 (CG10) is the latest in a continuing series of exercises designed to promote regional peace and security. This exercise marks the 29th anniversary of this regionally significant training event. U.S. Ambassador Eric G. John said at the CG10 press conference that “Cobra Gold is the United States’ largest military cooperative effort in the Pacific region and is a clear signal of U.S. commitment to the security of our friends and allies in the Asia-Pacific region.”

U.S. ambassador to Thailand Eric G. John (centre R) speaks during the opening ceremony as Thailand's Deputy Chief of Defense Forces Admiral Wallop Kerdphol (centre L) listens at the annual joint "Cobra Gold 2010" (CG10) military exercise at U-tapao airport in Rayong province, February 1, 2010. About 14,073 soldiers from six countries, Thailand, U.S. , Singapore Indonesia, Japan and South Korea are participating in the three-week military exercise. “Cobra Gold provides unique training opportunities for the participating nations, while also promoting relationship-building between militaries and local communities….While troops are honing skills on the ground, in the air, and in the waters around Thailand, service members from the United States, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Singapore, will participate in a multi-national peacekeeping scenario. Thai soldiers carry national flags as they participate in the opening ceremony of the annual joint "Cobra Gold 2010" (CG10) military exercise at U-tapao airport in Rayong province, February 1, 2010. About 14,073 soldiers from six countries, Thailand, U.S. , Singapore Indonesia, Japan and South Korea are participating in the three-week military exercise.

At the same time, humanitarian assistance projects will improve the quality of life in Thai villages, while allowing troops the opportunity to develop skills for future peacekeeping or humanitarian assistance deployments.” Training will consist of a computer-simulated command post exercise (CPX), field training exercises linked to the CPX, and humanitarian and civic assistance projects. The training aims to improve the Pacific Command’s ability to conduct joint and multi-national operations and increase multi-national forces interoperability. The computer-simulated command post exercise will combine Thai, U.S., Singaporean, Japanese, Indonesian, and South Korean participants in a coalition task force (CTF). Thai, U.S., Singaporean, Japanese, Indonesian, South Korean, and United Nations force staff (UNF) will participate in the field training designed around the United Nations multi-national peace support operations scenario. Thailand, the U.S., Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, and South Korea will participate in humanitarian and civic assistance projects.