LOP BURI, Thailand (Feb. 11, 2015) -- U.S. Soldiers with the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, or 2SBCT, 25th ID, stood alongside Thai soldiers from the 31-1st Infantry Regiment, or 31-1 IN, King's Guard Rapid Deployment Force, during Cobra Gold 15's opening ceremony at Royal Thai Army's Camp 31-1, near Lop Buri, Thailand, Feb. 10.
Although Cobra Gold 15 just started, the U.S. Soldiers have spent the past week building close friendships with soldiers of the 31-1 IN, through joint community service projects, friendly sporting events, and humanitarian aid focused training.
"We are ambassadors for our country and we are continuing to partner with the Royal Thai army with the focus on partnership and building ties for the future," said Col. David B. Womack, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team commanding officer.
During Cobra Gold, 2SBCT will work closely with the Royal Thai army to conduct a joint field training exercise that will test both nations on the ability to cooperatively conduct humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief operations.
The training will increase the capacity for U.S. and Thai forces to support the needs and humanitarian interests of civilian populations around the region.
"I am absolutely confident that the Cobra Gold training exercise this year will be successfully accomplished as every person who participates in this program displays discipline and sincere intention to the training," said Maj. Gen. Pongsawat Panchit, commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division, King's Guard, who presided over the ceremony.
Cobra Gold 15 marks the 34th iteration of the annual multinational training event, which is the largest multinational exercise in Asia and an integral part of the United States' commitment to strengthen engagement in the region.
"I want our Soldiers to walk away from this exercise recognizing how valuable we are in the Pacific," Womack said. "I want them to grow from this experience so that our Army will continue to get better and so they feel even more confident and competent in their role as the preeminent land force in the world."
A majority of the more than 700 Soldiers from 25th ID arrived in Thailand from their home in Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, in early February; which proved the ability of the 25th ID to quickly deploy forces into the Pacific.
Following Cobra Gold, 25th ID Soldiers are scheduled to continue with their Pacific Pathways mission as they move into South Korea for Exercise Foul Eagle.
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