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By FRED SHUSTERCity News Service

LOS ANGELES (CNS)Opening statements are expected tomorrow in the federal criminal trial of suspended Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who while a member of the Board of Supervisors alleg- edly steered county contracts to USC's social work school in exchange for benefits for his son.

Ridley-Thomas, 68, was suspended from the Los Angeles City Council following the October 2021 federal indictment. He is charged with one count each of conspiracy and bribery, two counts of honest services mail fraud and 15 counts of honest services wire fraud. He has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

A jury was seated in downtown Los Angeles Tuesday to hear the case against Ridley-Thomas.

Prosecutors contend that in exchange for Ridley-Thomas' efforts on behalf of the then-dean of the social work school, Marilyn Flynn, the politician's son Sebastian was given admission to USC, a full tuition scholarship, and a paid professorship.

Flynn admitted helping to disguise and funnel $100,000 from Ridley-Thomas' campaign account through the school to another nonprofit, United Ways of California, for the benefit of the Policy, Research & Practice Initiative, a new nonprofit initiative founded by Sebastian, according to her plea agreement.

By funneling the payment through USC, Ridley-Thomas and co-defendant Flynn attempted to disguise the true source of the payment to make it appear as though USC, not the then-supervisor, was the generous benefactor supporting his son and PRPI, prosecutors say.

The US Attorney's Office alleges that Ridley-Thomas delivered on his end of the bargain. As a supervisor in 2018, he voted on three county proposals that Flynn had sought to shore up her school's shoddy financialsituation, including a vote approving a much more lucrative amended TeleHealth agreement with the USC School of Social Work, prosecutors contend. He also allegedly sought to influence key county decision-makers associated with the approvals and made sure Flynn knew of his efforts.

Flynn, 84, of Los Feliz, pleaded guilty in September to one count of bribery, admitting that she agreed to route money from Ridley-Thomas to Sebastian's nonprofit. She is scheduled to be sentenced June 26.

Prosecutors say the amended Telehealth contract was expected to generate about $9 million a year for the social work school.

As a result of the deal, Sebastian became a professor of social work and public policy at USCdespite lacking a graduate degree. He was later terminated over questions about his original appointment and concerns by the university over the $100,000 donation. He also obtained a full-tuitionscholarship and graduate school admission, papers filed in Los Angeles federal court show.

Flynn was dean of the School of Social Work at USC for 21 years until her departure in 2018. She had originally been facing the same slate of federal charges as Ridley-Thomas.

Responding to news of Flynn's plea agreement, USC issued a statement last year saying that after the university learned during the summer of 2018 about unethical conduct by the former dean, "we quickly disclosed the matter to the US Attorney's Office. Marilyn Flynn has not been employed by the universitysince September 2018. USC is not a party to the criminal case but respects the judicial process."

Ridley-Thomas is a giant figure in local politics, previously serving on the Los Angeles City Council from 1991-2002, then serving in the state Assembly and state Senate before he was elected to the powerful county Board of Supervisors in 2008, serving until 2020 when he returned to the City Council.

He has a doctorate in social ethics from USC and spent 10 years as executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles, beginning in 1981.

By TERRI VERMEULEN KEITH

LOS ANGELES (CNS)A man who gunned down rapper Nipsey Hussle in front of the musician's Crenshaw District clothing store, but whose attorney insisted the killing was an impulsive act committed in the heat of passionwas convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder.

Jurors also found Eric Holder Jr., 32, guilty of two counts each of attempted voluntary manslaughter and assault with a firearm involving two other people who were injured in the March 31, 2019, shooting, along with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Jurors also found true allegations that he personally and intentionally discharged a handgun and that he personally inflicted great bodily injury on one of the victims.

Holder's attorney argued throughout the trial that the shooting was carried out in the "heat of passion," and did not rise to the level of first-degree murder. He argued that, at most, Holder committed manslaughter when he killed the 33-year-old rapper, whose real name was ErmiasJoseph Asghedom, outside Hussle's story near Crenshaw Boulevard and Slauson Avenue.

Jurors deliberated for nearly five hours on Friday, then met for just over a half-hour Wednesday morning before announcing they had reached a verdict.

Holder is facing a potential life prison term when he is sentenced Sept. 15. Shortly after the verdict, Deputy District Attorney John McKinney told reporters, "I want to say on behalf of the District Attorney's Office that we are both proud and I am personally a little relieved that the verdict came in a complete, absolute agree- ment with the charges that Eric Holder murdered Ermias Asghedom in cold blood."

"... We hope that today is a day in which the Asghedom family, the friends and fans of Nipsey Hussle around the world find some measure of closure," the prosecutor said. "Obviously nothing that happened here today can heal the wound. Nothing that happened here today can restore Mr. Asghedom to this world. But again, we hope that there is some resounding peace in the fact that his killer will be in prisonlikely for the rest of his life."

Defense attorney Aaron Jansen said in a statement that he was "deeply" disappointed with the jury's finding of first-degree murder, but that the defense was "grateful that the jury agreed with us, in part, that the case was over-charged" involving the other two men.

He said the defense will present Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jacke with "substantial evidence relating to Mr. Holder Jr.'s mental health," along with filing a notice of appeal on behalf of Holder.

When the trial began last month, Holder's attorney conceded that his client "shot and killed" the rapper, but said the crime in which his client fired with one gun in each hand occurred in the "heat of passion."

In his closing argument, Jansen told jurors: "This was an act of impulse and rashness."

The defense attorney said his client had "no cooling-off period" after being "called publicly a snitch by some- one as famous as Nipsey Hussle" nine minutes and 10 seconds earlier.

"This is a provocation that stirs up rage and powerful emotions," Jansen said. Holder's attorney also con- tended that the case was "overcharged from the beginning,'' and that the correct charge against Holder involving the rapper's slaying should have been voluntary manslaughteran option Judge H. Clay Jacke told jurors earlier they could consider.

The prosecutor told jurors that the killing was "cold-blooded" and "calculated," saying Holder had "quite a bit of time for premeditation and deliberation" before returning to the parking lot near Slauson Avenue and Crenshaw Boulevard where the rapper was shot 11 times.

"He's not consumed by rage," the prosecutor said, elaborating the defense's argument that he had been provoked was "nonsense."

Hussle was a "successful artist from the same neighborhood as Eric Holder, who's an unsuccessful artist," the prosecutor said.

"I submit to you that the motive for killing Nipsey Hussle had little to do with the conversation they had. ... There's pre-existing jealousy," the prosecutor said, prompting a quick objection from the defense attorney.

"Saying, 'You're through,' before shooting him and shooting him a number of times ... kicking him in the head, that's personal ... What makes this murder first-degree is premeditation and deliberation," McKinney said.

McKinney told the panel Hussle joined a gang as a youngster, changed over time and "wanted to change the neighborhood," but remained accessible without an entourage, security or fanfare while standing outside his business when he was shot by somebody with whom he had shaken hands just minutes before on "just another beautiful Sun- day afternoon in Los Angeles."

"You can't bring Nipsey back ... But you can do justice. Please do justice," McKinney told the panel shortly before the case was handed over to the jury.

The deputy district attorney said the attempted murder charges were a "closer question," but said he believed that jurors would ultimately con- clude that they were "not mere accidental shootings."

Jurors acquitted Holder of the attempted murder charge involving Kerry Lathan, who was shot in the back, finding the defendant guilty instead of attempted voluntary manslaughter and assault with a firearm. The prosecutor said the panelwhich found Holder guilty of the same charges involving a second victim who was grazed by a bulletmay not have been given the verdict form for attempted murder involving that victim.

Holder's attorney said there was "no hatred" and "no jealousy towards Nipsey Hussle" over his successful music career, telling jurors the allegation of snitching was a "serious" accusation made in public by some- one of the rapper's stature and that Hussle didn't provide his client with any details when questioned.

"It's not victim-blaming, it's not an excuse and it's not a justification," Jansen said.

The defense attorney also said his clientwho was "just living his life in Long Beach" and wasn't in a gang any longerhad been overcharged with attempted murder involving the two other men who were injured in the gunfire, saying that "he had no reason to kill these other two individuals."

Jurors heard eight days of testimony during the trial, which was delayed for a day last Tuesday following what Holder's attorney said was an attack on Holder in jail.

Jansen told reporters outside court last Wednesday that his client lost consciousness after being attacked the previous morning in a jail holding cell with other inmates while waiting to be taken to court. He subsequently underwent an MRI and required three staples to the back of his head, also suffering a swollen left eye and swelling on the left side of his face, according to the attorney.

The jury was shown autopsy photos during the testimony of a medical examiner who said Hussle suffered 11 gunshot wounds from his head to one of his feet.

Dr. Lawrence Nguyenwho reviewed the results of the autopsy done by another medical examiner who is unavailable to testifytold jurors that he concluded the cause of the rapper's death was "multiple gunshot wounds."

"I believe the number of shots to be within the realm of 10 to 11," Nguyen told the downtown Los Angeles jury. One of the rapper's wounds caused by a bullet that entered through the rapper's right abdomensevered his spinal cord and would likely have caused paralysis in the lower extremities if he had survived the shooting, the medical examiner testified.

During the defense's portion of the case, private investigator Robert Freeman told jurors that being called a snitch could put a gang member at risk of being beaten or killed. He noted that it would be more dangerous for an accusation about snitching to be made against someone in public where others could hear it and that something said by someone with a high status within a gang is "almost gold" on the streets.

Freeman, a former Los Angeles police officer who acknowledged being terminated from the force while he was still on probation, also told jurors that the firing of two gunsone in each hand that Holder allegedly wielded during the shootingwould lessen the accuracy of the shots. He noted that a two-handed grip on a gun is the best way to shoot with accuracy.

Holder did not testify in his own defense.

He has remained behind bars since his arrest two days after the shooting. His attorney told jurors that he surrendered himself at a mental health clinic in Bellflower.

After Hussle's death, thousands of people were on hand in April 2019 for a service in his honor, with singer Stevie Wonder and rapper Snoop Dogg among those paying tribute to him.

In a letter that was read during the service, former President Barack Obama wrote, "While most folks look at the Crenshaw neighborhood where he grew up and see only gangs, bullets and despair, Nipsey saw potential. He saw hope. He saw a community that, even through its flaws, taught him to always keep going."

The rapper-entrepreneur was posthumously honored with two Grammy Awards in 2020 for best rap perfor- mance for "Racks in the Middle" and for best rap/sung performance for "Higher."

Herman "Cowboy" Douglas, who was at the shopping center that day and testified as a prosecution witness, cried softly outside court after the verdict.

He told reporters later that he still wants to understand why his close friend was shot and killed, saying that the rapper "never called that man a snitch."

"It was so senseless. Why?" he said, adding that a "good person" was taken from the world.

"He had finally arrived. He had finally made it," Douglas said of Nipsey Hussle.

LOS ANGELES (CNS)Los Angeles rapper Drakeo the Ruler has died after being stabbed at a star-studded 12-hour concert at Banc of California Stadium at Exposition Park, according to multiple media reports Dec. 19.

Officials have not confirmed the victim's death or identity, but one of the rapper's representatives confirmed the information with Rolling Stone magazine and the Guardian, and colleagues were posting their shock andcondolences on social media.

The California Highway Patrol released the following statement Sunday:

"On Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021, at approximately 8:36 PM, a fight broke out behind the main stage of the Once Upon A Time In LA music festival in Los Angeles. During the altercation, one man was severely injured by a suspect wielding an edged weapon. Officers from the California Highway Patrol, Los Angeles Police Depart- ment, and Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene. The victim was transported to a local area hospital. The case is currently under investigation by the CHP. Any witnesses with information about this incident are asked to contact Southern Division Investigative Services Unit at 323-644-9550.''

Drakeo, whose real name was Darrell Caldwell, was taken to a hospital in critical condition where he later died, according to multiple outlets including the Los Angeles Times, TMZ and the online publication Complex. He had just turned 28 on Dec. 1.

The Once Upon a Time in LA Music Festival, which was slated to run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, was shut down early by police and firefighters after the violence broke out, according to Officer G. Todd of the LAPD's Operations Center.

Artists including Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Ice Cube, George Clinton, Al Green, the Isley Brothers and Cypress Hill were scheduled to perform. Video from the scene showed several people arguing and fighting outside the concert just before the stabbing, but it was unclear what sparked the confrontation.

"There was an altercation in the roadway backstage," a Live Nation spokesperson said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. "Out of respect for those involved and in coordination with local authorities, artists and organizers (we) decided not to move forward with remaining sets so the festival was ended an hour early."

The LAPD tweeted at 10:34 p.m. Saturday that "There has been an incident at the Once Upon A Time in LA festival at the Banc of California. The festival has concluded early."

Overnight, social media was filled with tributes to Caldwell, including one from fellow rapper Drake, who collaborated with him earlier this year on the song "Talk to Me."

"Nah man this s--- isn't right for real, wtf are we doing," Drake wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the

two together. "Always picked my spirit up with your energy. RIP Drakeo."

Snoop Dogg tweeted a statement about the incident Sunday morning.

"I'm saddened by the events that took place last night at the Once Upon a Time in LA festival. My condolences go out to the family and friends of Drakeo the Ruler," he wrote. "I'm not with anything negative and as one of the many performers, I was there to spread positive vibes only to my city of LA. Last night I was in my dress-ing room when I was informed about the incident and chose to immediately leave the festival grounds.

"My prayers go out to everyone affected by tragedy," the Long Beach rapper continued. "Please take care,

love one another and stay safe ya'll. I'm praying for peace in hip hop."

Journalist Jeff Weiss shared his thoughts on Twitter.

"RIP Drakeo, the greatest West Coast artist of a generation, a legend who invented a new rap language of slippery cadences, nervous rhythms, and psychedelic slang, who beat life twice only to suffer the most tragic fate conceiv- able," Weiss wrote, punctuated with a broken heart emoji. "The Ruler, once, always, and forever."

Caldwell was a Los Angeles native who has released 10 mixtapes since 2015 and put out his first studio album earlier this year titled, "I Am Mr. Mosely."

Critics have cited his unique flow and "oddly expressive, poetic word-choices."The Times called him "the

most original West Coast stylist in decades."

He recorded the mixtape "Thank You For Using GTL" at Men's Central Jail while awaiting trial in the 2016 killing of a 24-year-old man, according to The Times, which said he was acquitted of murder and attempted murder charges. Caldwell later pleaded to conspiracy charges in connection with the killing and was released in November 2020, the newspaper added.

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For a fresh perspective on her training, 'Android 18' Itsuki Hirata moved from her home in Japan and now trains in New York City, USA. The Japanese-born Judoka has found it majorly beneficial and may look for further moves in the US.

Hirata currently trains at the Serra-Longo Fight Team. She has been preparing for her upcoming MMA match alongside notable fighters such as Chris Weidman, Aljamain Sterling, and Matt Serra, among others.

However, Hirata may have her eyes on training at fight camps such as American Top Team. ATT's main coaches are former WEC champion Mike Brown and Strikeforce champion 'King' Mo Lawal.

ATT has produced some highly notable athletes in MMA such as former ONE flyweight world champion Adriano Moraes, Joanna Jdrzejczyk, Dustin Poirier, Kayla Harrison, Kyoji Horiguchi, and many others.

On potentially visiting the American Top Team camp, Itsuki Hirata said:

A little nervous, Hirata continued:

To get ready for her upcoming atomweight showdown, 'Android 18' trained in New York to prepare for 'Hamzzang' Ham Seo Hee. These two are booked for a battle on March 24 at ONE Fight Night 8 on Prime Video. ONE Fight Night events are broadcast live and for free in North America via Prime Video.

Itsuki Hirata discussed training in New York for Ham Seo Hee. While speaking in an interview with ONE Championship, she said:

Excerpt from:
Itsuki Hirata eyes training stint with American Top Team - Sportskeeda

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Learning a new business skill is an excellent way to break into an industry,make yourself more attractive to employersor earn more money and responsibility in your current career.

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But between work, family and life, the thought of spending years in a classroom can be overwhelming. Fortunately, you don't have to. It's possible to learn many in-demand skills in less than a year -- some in just a few weeks or months.

Potential earning increases for adding new skills to your resume are wide-ranging, but the more skill you can bring to the table for an employer, the better your advantage over other candidates, the higher your value in your industry and the more negotiating power you'll have when discussing your wage or salary. Enrich your career and increase your paycheck with these money-making skills and certifications.

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Project managers oversee various projects from start to finish. Project management skills are useful in many industries, including healthcare and information technology. Udemy's Project Management Professional Certification Program takes about 45 hours to complete and costs $109.99.

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Becoming proficient in search engine optimization and search engine marketing helps you excel as a marketing professional and opens the door to opportunities in digital marketing and website development. With SEO knowledge, you can develop successful internet marketing campaigns and provide multiple industries with website content. The SEO course and certification fromClickMindedis $997 and three to six hours long.

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Learning video editing and production can open the door to opportunities with marketing and promotional companies, or help you land entry-level work in television and video editing. Training costs and program lengths vary. For example, theNew York Film Academyoffers 15-week digital workshops with tuition starting at $2,000.

Story continues

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Learning how to develop apps enables you to create your own web applications from scratch. You can work as an independent contractor developing apps for companies or get a job as an app developer. You can find several free and low-cost online training opportunities --edXoffers a variety of app development courses that last about six weeks. Courses are free, but you'll have to pay to become certified.

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Translators work in private and public schools, courthouses, hospitals and conference centers. Becoming a translator might be a great opportunity if you already speak and write in another language. The University of Arizona offers an online Spanish/English Translation Certification program made up of 3 courses and lasts 16 weeks. This program costs $2,475, but there are many online courses and programs available for a variety of price ranges.

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Several industries use data analytics -- including travel, energy, finance, education and health -- to identify patterns and trends they can leverage for growing their businesses. Online learning center General Assembly offers an accelerated one-week course and a 10-week, part-timeData Analytics coursefor $4,500. Upon completing the course, you might be eligible to receive credit toward an online graduate program.

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Cloud computing technology is an excellent skill to learn because it's one of the fastest-growing businesses in the IT industry.Cloud Academyprovides a wealth of ongoing training to help you learn cloud computing and prepare for Amazon Web Services certification,starting at $39 a month. The course has no end date, and you can learn as little or as much as you like.

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You don't need a four-year computer science degree to learn basic computer programming and get entry-level jobs in information technology or roles related to website or software development and database management. Complete the Penn Foster Career School's online ComputerProgramming Languages Certificate programin nine months and learn programming skills as well as JavaScript, Microsoft Visual Basic and Access. The program costs between $499 and $589.

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Developing strong leadership skills can help you guide a team. These skills are valuable if you are working toward becoming a manager, supervisor or director. eCornell offers a four-monthExecutive Leadership Cornell Certificate Programfor people in executive roles that costs $4,999.

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Network systems administration training teaches you how to install, configure and troubleshoot problems within an organization's computer network. DeVry University offers an online undergraduate certificate in networking essentials that consists of 8 courses that take a minimum of 23 credit hours to complete. Cost per credit hour starts at $514 for new students.

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Whether you're working in healthcare, administration or business, excellent writing skills are essential for drafting emails and memos. Online writing courses help you hone these skills at little to no cost. Udemy'sBusiness Writing & Technical Writing Immersion course, for example, is offered to help you improve your writing skills in just a few minutes per day and costs only $89.99.

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A basic bookkeeping course teaches you how to manage a company's financial accounts. Bookkeepers are employed in all types of industries, including healthcare, government, private businesses and retail. Penn Foster'sonline bookkeeping coursestake about five months, and tuition starts at $749.

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Learning a second language can not only help you establish relationships with clients who don't speak English, but also can make you a viable candidate for jobs that require international travel -- from sales and business development to training and leading others on tours. You can also use this skill for call center jobs, telephone or online sales jobs and customer service jobs with employers who need bilingual employees. Check out foreign language or American Sign Language classes at a community college or online. The University of Wisconsin-Madison, for example, offers an online, four-monthBusiness Spanish Certificate Programstarting at $649.

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Consider a virtual reality certificate program if you want to learn basic VR programming and develop VR applications. Learning how to write VR programs opens the door to entry-level positions with software design companies. University of California San Diego offers aprofessional certificatein Virtual Reality (VR) App Development that includes three courses over five months for $267.30.

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Becoming a certified personal trainer qualifies you to work in fitness gyms and wellness centers to help beginner and advanced fitness enthusiasts transform their bodies. You can become certified in as few as 15 weeks at theNational Academy of Sports Medicine, where the cost ranges from $649 to $1,484.

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Companies with websites often need people knowledgeable in online marketing to increase traffic to their sites. Learning online marketing skills can help you snag a digital marketing job. Online marketing skills are also beneficial when launching your own business. Udemy has a 30-dayOnline Marketing Crash Coursefor $19.99that covers basic online marketing strategy, social media, blogging and more. Other online education options include eCornell, which offers a two-month, $3,699Digital Marketing Certificate Program.

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Information security training paves the way for a career in cybersecurity. Work with government agencies, retailers and other businesses to protect sensitive information from hackers. Boston University, for example, offers an onlineInformation Security Graduate Certificate program, which students can complete in eight months. Tuition is about $15,160, and scholarship opportunities are available.

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Certified financial planning certification is an asset if you work in banking, insurance, investing or another financial field. You must have a bachelor's degree or higher to complete a CFP Board-Registered Program and take the CFP exam. Program schedules vary, but you can usually complete training in less than a year. For example, you can finish theCFP Certification programat Barry University in South Florida in about 10 months -- it costs $6,150for seven courses.

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Graphic design training lets you express your creativity and convey messages visually. Put your skills to good use as a freelancer or work for a web design company, internet marketing company, publisher or interior design company. Udemy offers a Graphic Design Bootcamp that only requires 16 hours to complete with a certificate, and the price starts at $129.99.

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Learning time management skills helps you become a more efficient worker, which employers consider a strong point. When you know how to balance priorities your overall productivity improves. Learning Tree International offers a two-day, onlineTime Management Training coursefor $1,950.

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Completing a basic tax preparation class is one way to make extra money during tax season. The course can also help you gain valuable tax experience if you're working toward becoming an accountant, certified public accountant or financial planner.The Income Tax Schooloffers 10-week, online tax preparation courses starting at $497.

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An entrepreneurship certificate is worth the investment if you're looking to start your own business. You'll learn skills for successfully managing a business, handling company funds, creating a business plan and marketing a business. St. Petersburg College, for example, offers an online Business Entrepreneur Certificate program that includes 12 credit hours that can be completed in a year or less. Tuition per credit hour ranges from $111.75 to $386.90.

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A notary public witnesses and records the signing of important papers like mortgage closing documents and legal affidavits. In addition to notary public service providers -- like shipping service retail stores -- real estate companies, banks and law firms also employ or use notaries. A notary public course takes about three to six hours to complete, and you'll have to pass a notary exam approved by your state. In Florida, the cost of a three-hour online training is $59. Some employers cover or reimburse this cost.

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Learning how to handle a bar can help you earn extra money working at a bar, restaurant or private party. Different states will have different requirements for bartenders, but you can find a wide variety of resources for your state online. Online mixology and bartending courses are offered for every skill level, entry to advanced, and can range from free to $400. Typsy, an online platform for hospitality courses and training, offers a number of bartending courses to individual subscribers for free.

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If you're interested in legal work but don't want to attend law school, consider a career as a paralegal and work alongside lawyers. AtBlackstone Career Institute, for example, you can complete paralegal studies in as few as eight to 12 months. Tuition ranges from $1,214 to $1,442.

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Ashleigh Ray, Joel AndersonandGabrielle Olyacontributed to the reporting for this article.

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1 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, U.S. Army Soldiers with 23 Brigade Engineer Battalion, and Royal Thai Army Soldiers with 21st Field Artillery Battalion observe the impact areas at a Combined Arms Live-Fire Exercise during Cobra Gold 23 at Lopburi Province, Kingdom of Thailand, March 10, 2023. Cobra Gold, now in its 42nd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the longstanding friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. 1/7 is forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Davin A. Tenbusch) (Photo Credit: Cpl. Davin Tenbusch) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption U.S. Army Paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division and Royal Thai Army Soldiers kneel side-by-side after executing a Strategic Airborne Operation during Exercise Cobra Gold 2023, near Thanarat Drop Zone, Kingdom of Thailand, March 2, 2023. Cobra Gold, now in its 42nd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.(U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Cayce Watson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Cayce Watson) VIEW ORIGINAL 3 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption U.S. Army Paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division and Royal Thai Army Soldiers conduct a Strategic Airborne Operation during Exercise Cobra Gold 2023, near Thanarat Drop Zone, Kingdom of Thailand, March 2, 2023. Cobra Gold, now in its 42nd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.(U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Cayce Watson) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Cayce Watson) VIEW ORIGINAL 4 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, and Royal Thai Marines with 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, exchange gifts and say goodbye after training together during Exercise Cobra Gold at Chanthaburi Province, Kingdom of Thailand, March 3, 2023. Cobra Gold, now in its 42nd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. 1/7 is forward deployed in the Indo-Pacific under 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division as part of the Unit Deployment Program. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Michael Taggart) (Photo Credit: Lance Cpl. Michael Taggart) VIEW ORIGINAL 5 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Ospreys assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (Rein.) 362, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, fly over multinational forces during an amphibious exercise as part of Exercise Cobra Gold 23 in Chonburi province, Kingdom of Thailand, March 3, 2023. Participating nations conducted operations simultaneously across multiple locations to refine command and control processes while fostering interoperability. Cobra Gold, now in its 42nd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Chad J. Pulliam) (Photo Credit: Gunnery Sgt. Chad Pulliam) VIEW ORIGINAL 6 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption Republic of Korea Marines approach the shoreline in combat rubber raiding craft during an amphibious exercise as part of Exercise Cobra Gold in Sattahip, Chon Buri province, Kingdom of Thailand, March 3, 2023. Marines from participating nations worked together to foster readiness and interoperability. Cobra Gold, now in its 42nd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Abigail Clark) (Photo Credit: Pfc. Abigail Clark) VIEW ORIGINAL 7 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption From bottom to top amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Royal Thai Navy landing platform dock HTMS Angthong (LPD 791), Republic of Korea Navy tank landing ship ROKS Il Chul Bong (LST 688), and landing transport dock USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26)during operation Cobra Gold 2023, March 3, 2023. Exercise Cobra Gold 2023, in its 42nd iteration, is one of the largest multilateral theater security cooperation exercises in the Indo-Pacific and reflects the U.S. commitment to allies and partners, providing a continuous and reliable platform to train, prepare, and enhance regional interoperability. The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, comprised of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island and amphibious transport dock USS Anchorage (LPD 23) and USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26), is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations with the embarked 13th MEU to enhance interoperability with Allies and partners and serve as a ready-response force to defend peace and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Joshua Martinez) (Photo Credit: Seaman Joshua Martinez) VIEW ORIGINAL 8 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption Royal Thai Marines and U.S. Marines with Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171, form a human conveyor belt to transport buckets of mortar for wall construction during Exercise Cobra Gold 23 (CG23) at Chanthaburi, Kingdom of Thailand, Feb. 20, 2023. Marine Wing Support Squadron (MWSS) 171 and MWSS-172 participated in the 42nd iteration of the Cobra Gold series of exercises, where they lended their engineering expertise to multilateral humanitarian efforts. CG23 emphasized readiness and cooperation amongst the participating nations through command and control, field training, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Samantha Rodriguez) (Photo Credit: Lance Cpl. Samantha Rodriguez) VIEW ORIGINAL 9 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption U.S. Army soldiers play a game with a child at a community outreach event during Exercise Cobra Gold in Rayong Province, Kingdom of Thailand, March 9, 2023. Cobra Gold, now in its 42nd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kassandra Alanis) (Photo Credit: Petty Officer 3rd Class Kassandra Alanis) VIEW ORIGINAL 10 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption A 302nd Airlift Wing C-130H Hercules delivers a missile pod for a U.S. Marine Corps High Mobility Artillery Rocket System at Khok Kathiam Royal Thai Air Force Base, Kingdom of Thailand, during Exercise Cobra Gold 23, March 6, 2023. Cobra Gold, now in its 42nd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Soo C. Kim) (Photo Credit: Tech. Sgt. Soo Kim) VIEW ORIGINAL 11 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption A U.S. Marine Corps High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) from 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, fires a M28A2 Reduced Range Practice Rocket during a combined arms live-fire exercise (CALFEX) at Cobra Gold 2023 in the Kingdom of Thailand, March 10, 2023. The CALFEX demonstrated long range precision fire support and interoperability between U.S Marines, the U.S. Army, and the Royal Thai Army. Cobra Gold, now in its 42nd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Megan Roses) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Megan Roses) VIEW ORIGINAL 12 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption Royal Thai Army Soldiers train alongside U.S. Army Soldiers of 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7th Infantry Division, during a live-fire exercise with a Stryker vehicle-mounted 120mm mortar during Exercise Cobra Gold 2023, near Lop Buri, Kingdom of Thailand, March 3, 2023. Cobra Gold, now in its 42nd year, is a Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

(U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. Alec Dionne) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Alec Dionne)

RAYONG PROVINCE, Thailand The 42nd iteration of Exercise Cobra Gold ran from Feb. 28 to March 10, 2023, in the Kingdom of Thailand, with multiple nations coming together to train and promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The annual Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event built on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and featured multinational training on joint military operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster response, as well as cultural exchanges and civic action programs, such as construction projects in local communities.

Cobra Gold 23 strengthens our ability to plan and conduct combined, joint, high-end security and peacekeeping operations across all domains, said U.S. Navy Adm. Chris Aquilino, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Through Cobra Gold, we demonstrate our resolve to respond together to future challenges, preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific where all nations can prosper.

This years exercise was the largest in recent years, with more than 7,000 service members from seven full participating nations: the Kingdom of Thailand, United States, Indonesia, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and the Republic of Korea. More than 20 other nations also attended as observers, planners or limited participants in select events, such as humanitarian civic action programs, defensive cyber training and disaster response exercises.

All this is being done with a host of partners, said U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson, commanding general of the U.S. Armys I Corps, which served as a U.S. joint task force (JTF) headquarters for the exercise.

Cobra Gold builds relationships and enhances capabilities of all the nations that come together by being together and talking about everything from the tactical level, with soldiers on the ground executing marksmanship training, all the way up to the operational level, with the staff exercise where we talk about how we would execute different types of missions together, said U.S. Army Col. Brandon Teague, I Corps chief of staff.

Major events during Cobra Gold fell within three main lines of effort: multinational joint field training, multi-domain command and control exercises and various humanitarian activities.

Several field training events took place simultaneously during Cobra Gold, enhancing multinational interoperability and readiness for a range of military operations across multiple domains. This included various small-unit training events focused on tactics, jungle survival skills, marksmanship and weapons familiarization. There were also several key culminating events some occurring simultaneously in which U.S. joint forces integrated closely with allies and partners for large-scale operations.

U.S. Army Paratroopers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team Falcons, 82nd Airborne Division worked with the Royal Thai Army to execute a strategic airborne operation, air assault and follow-on ground mission. Beginning from a base on the island of Diego Garcia, a combined force of approximately 600 Royal Thai and American paratroopers flew over 2,000 miles aboard multiple U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft, conducted in-flight rigging of their parachutes and jumped into Thanarat Drop Zone, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, on March 3.

Training with our Thai counterparts was very fluid, said U.S. Army Sgt. Nickolas Howes, a squad leader in the Falcon Brigade. We adapted very easilyEvery interaction I had, we were talking like old friends.

Around the same time, some 70 miles east across the Gulf of Thailand, an amphibious exercise brought together Navy and Marine forces from the Kingdom of Thailand, United States and Republic of Korea (ROK) who all converged on Hat Yao Beach in Chon Buri Province. Reconnaissance Marines from the U.S. and Kingdom of Thailand inserted first, followed by Assault Amphibious Vehicles carrying a larger force of Royal Thai and Republic of Korea Marines. Finally, U.S. and Republic of Korea Marines reinforced the beachhead with support from a U.S. Navy Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC), a Republic of Korea Navy Tank Landing Ship, and Royal Thai Navy S-70B Seahawk helicopter.

The U.S. landing force came from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked aboard the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group.

In another near simultaneous event, Royal Thai, U.S. and ROK Marines conducted a combined air assault exercise, flying in on MV-22 Ospreys and CH-53E Super Stallions helicopters and rapidly securing an airfield to ensure freedom of movement for follow-on forces.

These synchronized training events offered valuable experience not only for the units on the ground, but also for those responsible for command and control of Cobra Golds joint operations across vast distances and multiple domains land, air, maritime, space and cyberspace.

We have been able to link operations in this chain, and that allows us to not only conduct the operations, but to assess the effects and continue operating, said Brunson. In the past, these operations have happened in almost a discrete fashion, as mostly separate events independent of one another. This year, however, the joint task force headquarters purposefully integrated these events amphibious, airborne, air assault and other operations and treated them as part of one synchronized larger operation.

This allowed I Corps, as the JTF headquarters, to practice real-world command and control by integrating joint capabilities and synchronizing these complex operations across all domains.

Other bilateral and multilateral field training took place throughout the exercise.

Artillery units gained valuable live-fire experience, enhancing their ability to rapidly deliver precision long-range firepower in support of allies and partners. A High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Rapid Infiltration, or HIRAIN, brought together U.S. Army Soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division and 17th Field Artillery Brigade, U.S. Marine Corps Artillery Marines with 3d Battalion, 12th Marines, the U.S. Air Forces 353rd Special Operations Wing and the Royal Thai Armed Forces.

During this March 6 HIRAIN in Lop Buri Province, under command and control of the U.S. Armys 7th Infantry Division, operations commenced with a Thai-U.S. air assault, supported by 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, to secure an airfield. Once the area was secure, HIMARS crews conducted rapid infiltration, deployment, and displacement out of a U.S. Air Force C-130H. HIRAINs allow commanders to increase their options for long-range artillery employment and drastically increase the maneuverability and survivability of artillery systems.

U.S. Army mortar teams and M777 155mm howitzer crews from 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), 7th Inf. Div., also trained alongside Royal Thai Army counterparts, learning and training on each others weapon systems.

At the Nong Krachong Shooting Range in Rayong Province, U.S. Marines with 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, Royal Thai Marines and Royal Thai Navy SEALs competed with one another on a set of ranges from March 4 to 9. Service members tested their traditional marksmanship skills as well as a combat marksmanship range, which places an emphasis on tactical proficiency with a dynamic range of drills, such as speed reloading and hitting moving targets.

Throughout Cobra Gold, U.S. service members learned valuable information about jungle survival from their Royal Thai counterparts, who taught U.S. Soldiers and Marines how to scavenge for food in the jungle and establish shelters, while also familiarizing them with the wildlife of the region.

Cobra Gold 23s culminating field training event was a combined arms live-fire exercise (CALFEX), where participants from the Kingdom of Thailand, U.S., Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia worked together to seize an objective along with follow-on targets and defeat a counterattack with joint fires. The event combined a diverse spectrum of military operations including High-Altitude Low-Opening jumps from Malaysian and Singaporean Special Forces, Royal Thai Army sniper teams, U.S. Marine Corps HIMARS, U.S. Army AH-64 Apaches from 25th Combat Aviation Brigade, U.S. Army M777 towed 155mm howitzers from 1-2 SBCT, U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, and Stryker armored vehicles operating together in support of a unified mission: breaching enemy obstacles and seizing two key positions through a series of fire and maneuver.

U.S. command and control for the CALFEX, airborne operations and other U.S. Army field training came from I Corps 7th Inf. Div., which served as the Army force headquarters, or ARFOR, during Cobra Gold.

Additional support to Cobra Gold 23 came from a wide range of joint partners.

The U.S., Royal Thai, and Republic of Korea navies supported naval and amphibious operations throughout Cobra Gold, with participation from the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), Royal Thai Navy landing platform dock HTMS Angthong (LPD 791), Republic of Korea Navy tank landing ship ROKS Il Chul Bong (LST 688), and landing transport dock USS John P. Murtha, as well as multiple aircraft, ships and landing craft supporting the March 3 amphibious assault and other exercises. Additionally, U.S. Navy Patrol Squadron (VP) 10 dispatched Combat Aircrew (CAC) 3 and a maintenance support team to Utapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, employing the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to provide support during the amphibious assault exercise.

Air Force integration was on display, as F-16 Fighting Falcons from the U.S. and Royal Thai Air Forces flew over 130 sorties throughout the exercise, strengthening interoperability between the two nations. The U.S. fighters came from 36th Fighter Squadron, part of 51st Fighter Wing. Airlift support was provided by multiple C-17 cargo aircraft from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina; and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Additionally, C-130 cargo aircraft from both nations performed dozens of sorties in support of Cobra Gold, helping rapidly deploy troops and equipment, such as during the HIRAIN exercise.

Special operations units also trained together in support of Cobra Gold, including Royal Thai Armed Forces Special Operations, Royal Thai and U.S. Navy Special Warfare Commands, U.S. Army 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Special Operations Detachment-Pacific from the Washington Army National Guard, and the U.S. Air Force 353rd Special Operations Wing.

Members of participating nations not only worked together on a tactical level to carry out field training, but leaders and planners gathered to discuss and practice the planning stages of multinational operations across multiple domains including space and cyber. This years staff exercises featured an operational preparation of the environment, a command and control exercise, a cyber exercise and a combined space forces coordination center.

At this years cyber exercise, participants broke into teams by country and prepared to defend cyber assets through the assessment of threats, the development and implementation of incident response plans and the sharing of knowledge between teams.

This year, we have 116 participants from eight nations, said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jason Silves, cyber exercise director and member of the Washington Air National Guard. Opening the aperture to understand that there is more than just military networks, and that we may be called on to support our partners, helps to broaden our skillset and gives us the opportunity to practice here in an exercise as opposed to learning to do that on the fly.

This was the inaugural year integrating the space domain into Cobra Gold, with a space planning team of 18 personnel from four nations. This team successfully planned space capabilities to support the multinational force.

The activities increased our shared understanding of what constitutes safe and responsible space activities and how to contribute to a more stable space environment by reducing the risk of miscalculation, said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Chad Briggs, space exercise coordinator and commander of Hawaii Air National Guard Detachment 1.

Within the exercise environment, the team proposed space coordination mechanisms between the Space Operations Centers in Thailand, Japan, and the U.S.

Next years exercise will offer an opportunity to expand participation, Briggs said, further strengthening space cooperation with allies and partners.

Cobra Golds humanitarian assistance / disaster relief operations this year included both conceptual, tabletop planning workshops and also practical demonstrations on the ground.

The HA/DR Tabletop Exercise (TTX) took place Feb. 24 to 26, with participation from eight nations. Multiple international organizations also took part, including the Center of Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, International Federation of the Red Cross, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, ASEAN Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and others.

Approximately 100 TTX participants met in person for the first time since 2019 and exchanged ideas on preparing for HA/DR scenarios.

This years tabletop has the largest group of participants, said Britton London, Sr., advisor and exercise planner from the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance. It was exciting to see the eager participation by all nations who have a lot of experience responding to several types of disasters. The questions asked were designed to get the multinational teams to think of solutions together, and to share experiences to learn and grow.

Following these conceptual discussions on how to prepare for a humanitarian crisis, service members from participating nations met at the Disaster Relief Training Center in Chachoengsao Province from Feb. 28 to March 3 for practical demonstrations of HA/DR operations, including search and rescue, emergency medical services, medical evacuation, hazardous materials decontamination, and firefighting. At a Multinational Coordination Center, service members worked together to process emergency calls and dispatch resources shared between nations to respond as quickly as possible alongside the Kingdom of Thailands civilian first responders.

The demonstration focused specifically on civilian response and military integration in support of civilian first responders, said U.S. Army Col. Stan Seo, plans officer for the Washington National Guard. The Multinational Coordination Center is designed to integrate foreign militaries into a theater of operations. Their job is to coordinate between all militaries, and our goal is to inform and resource gaps that a host nation may not have, and to fill those gaps with military assets.

A combined task force from Japan, the U.S. and Kingdom of Thailand worked together March 4 and 5 to practice non-combatant evacuation operations and the rescue of Japanese nationals overseas (NEO/RJNO). Service members from the three nations set up an evacuation control center on Utapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield to process the entry and evacuation of approximately 180 actors portraying civilian non-combatants from Japan and elsewhere. Actors were screened by medical services before undergoing simulated decontamination of any harmful chemicals or pathogens. Afterwards, they were escorted to awaiting aircraft and evacuated from the area.

Humanitarian efforts during Cobra Gold often extend beyond training and directly protect and benefit local communities throughout the Kingdom of Thailand.

During a bilateral explosive ordnance reduction event in Surin Province, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technicians from the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army and Royal Thai Armed Forces, together with the Thailand Mine Action Center, safely disposed of more than 8,500 pounds of unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war found in the region. These EOD experts worked side-by-side at Ta Mor Roi Training area to conduct explosive ordnance disposal operations and exchange advanced technical skills to safely eliminate explosive dangers and remnants of war helping protect those living in surrounding areas.

The time together has produced strong personal relationships between 3d MLG, 13th MEU, USARPAC, Royal Thai Armed Forces, Thai Police EOD, and Thai Border Patrol Police, in turn strengthening the bilateral relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Thailand, said U.S. Marine Corps Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Kuhns, the Humanitarian Mine Action EOD officer-in-charge.

Another annual highlight of Cobra Golds humanitarian efforts is the Engineering Civic Action Program (ENCAP), and this years exercise featured six separate ENCAP project sites throughout Thailand. Multinational military engineers from nine nations worked together to build classrooms and multipurpose rooms for communities in the Rayong, Lop Buri, Sa Kaeo and Chanthaburi Provinces. Each project was completed over the course of one month, starting in early Feb., with dedication ceremonies all taking place before the conclusion of Cobra Gold on March 10.

While here, we are building relationships with our Thai counterparts and displaying our ability to work with other nations, while at the same time bringing a much-needed multipurpose building to the school, said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Ryan Stancil, ENCAP Site 5 officer-in-charge (Ban Bua Chum School, Lop Buri Province), assigned to the 374th Civil Engineer Squadron. We have 22 (Royal Thai Air Force) engineers, 14 (U.S. Air Force) civil engineers, one USAF independent duty medical technician and five Indian Army personnel working on this project, and the working relationship has been great.

Beyond the multinational military training and humanitarian projects, a highlight of Cobra Gold for many service members came from the opportunity to experience new cultures, form new friendships and in some cases even reconnect with old friends and family.

Some service members experienced Thai food for the first time. For instance, those based at Camp Red Horse in Utapao Royal Thai Navy Airfield, where the multinational command and control exercises were held, enjoyed a daily variety of favorite Thai dishes from local food vendors, including phat kaphrao, pad thai and fresh local fruits.

Some experienced other proud elements of Thai culture. U.S. Soldiers in Lop Buri were treated to a Muay Thai training session with Thai champion fighter Buakaw Banchemak on March 5. Muay Thai is central to Thailands athletic culture and is required self-defense training in the Royal Thai Army.

Buakaw, himself an officer in the Royal Thai Army, also performed the Wai Khru ceremony alongside members of the U.S. Army 7th Infantry Division, 82nd Airborne Division, and Royal Thai Army. The Wai Khru is a ritual performed by Muay Thai fighters before a match to show respect to their coaches. During the ceremony, Buakaw exchanged Thai Mangos and Washington apples with U.S. Army Col. J. Todd Burroughs, commander of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.

Cobra Gold produced many new friendships, but it also gave old friends a chance to reconnect.

U.S. Army Capt. David Lane, 17th Field Artillery Brigade, reconnected in Thailand with his old friend and classmate, Capt. Sittipat Maingiw of the Royal Thai Army 711th Field Artillery Battalion. The officers had met one year earlier in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, as classmates in the U.S. Armys Field Artillery Captains Career Course.

As soon as I learned that we were going to the Kingdom of Thailand, I sent him a message, Lane said. As they reconnected, they also worked to strengthen interoperability and bonds between their field artillery units. Together, they prepared a capabilities brief to educate the U.S. and Royal Thai field artillery personnel on one anothers tactics and procedures: differences, similarities, and how the two units could support and learn from one another.

It was great seeing and working with [Maingiw] again and working through this training together and building a better rapport, Lane said. No one knows everything, and working with our partner forces through [Maingiw] is a great way to learn more.

For some American service members, Cobra Gold was part exercise and part homecoming.

U.S. Army Pfc. Taddanai Rungpetchanan, a native of the Kingdom of Thailand and now an information technology specialist with the 51st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, was born in a town not far from where he was deployed as part of Cobra Gold.

It feels surreal. I never imagined I would be back here as an American Soldier, Rungpetchanan said. I would like to thank the Army for allowing me to be here. I am grateful to travel and see my Grandma.

Rungpetchanan is on his first deployment with the Army as part of Cobra Gold, providing IT support but also serving as an unofficial translator and cultural ambassador for his native country, teaching his fellow U.S. Soldiers about Thai culture, customs and courtesies.

I used my ability to translate to bring the Royal Thai Army and the U.S. together to break down walls between our different cultures, he said.

He was not the only Thai-born U.S. Soldier returning to the Kingdom of Thailand for Cobra Gold.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Apisit Meejaiyen, assigned to 9th Mission Support Command, grew up in Thailands Rayong Province, before moving to America in his early teens. Now, he is a two-time veteran of Cobra Gold.

In 2022, Meejaiyen served as officer-in-charge of an ENCAP construction site in his very own Rayong Province, less than an hours drive from where he grew up.

Knowing that what I helped build could make a difference in the community, I am proud to be an American Soldier, he said.

This year, Meejaiyen served as part of Cobra Golds Combined Joint Information Bureau, visiting ENCAP sites and cultural events to assist with local engagements and Thai-language interviews. He was also able to revisit his hometown and see family and friends.

His favorite Cobra Gold experience this year was being able to attend the Muay Thai training with Buakaw in Lop Buri, and also getting to see some of the same Royal Thai soldiers that he worked with last year.

Its a dream mission, Meejaiyen said. Cobra Gold inspired me to be a Soldier, and the U.S. Army Reserve gave me the opportunity to make an impact so close to where I came from.

Cobra Gold is an annual Thai-U.S. co-sponsored training event that builds on the long-standing friendship between the two allied nations and brings together a robust multinational force to promote regional peace and security in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. This year, 2023, marks the 42nd iteration of the exercise, as well as 190 years of formal diplomatic relations between the two nations and almost seven decades as security treaty allies.

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Take Action Now to Protect Your Business From a Recession With ... - Entrepreneur