Thai Marines execute NEO exercise during Cobra Gold 06

[USMCRET6391]

U-TAPHO, Thailand (May 21, 2006) -- One of the most important aspects in noncombatant evacuation operations is the successful planning and execution of its evacuation control center. To strengthen interoperability between the U.S. and the Royal Thai Marine Corps the Thai Marines conducted a NEO exercise with the help and support of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) May 21 during Exercise Cobra Gold 2006.

Marine and sailors of MEU have been training with the Royal Thai Marines since May 15 in a variety of MEU specific capabilities. In preparation of this planned NEO exercise, instructors with MEU Service Support Group 31 spent a few days training more than 50 of their Thai brothers on the proper procedures of planning and execution of a hasty and deliberate ECC.

“This past week, we have been training the Thai NEO staff on how to plan and execute NEO operations to include the Rapid Response Planning Process (R2P2),” said Capt. Andres Caceres-Solari, the MSSG’s operations officer who provided instruction to the Thai Marines.

“Since the beginning of this training evolution, they have become very knowledgeable and flexible in adapting to different NEO scenarios,” added Caceres-Solari, a Lima, Peru native.

Royal Thai Navy Rear Adm. Boonchai Marinpong, the commander of Combined Naval Forces for Cobra Gold, said that the most important aspect about the training was to learn the most effective way to bring their citizens back to their kingdom from regions that have conflict.

NEO operations are not an easy task to carry out, Marinpong said. Because controlling people in chaotic scenarios can be difficult, he said that they must continue to train for this and prepare for the worst while becoming more proficient with the planning process.

“This year for Cobra Gold, our plan was to apply R2P2 to our exercise,” said Marinpong. “Our goal is to start applying this to all our exercises and operations. It’s a new and effective planning process for us that helps us execute more efficiently.”

Caceres-Solari said that he has already noticed a change in their planning and execution.

“I’m extremely impressed with how they adapted to this planning method that is so new to them. They transferred the plan to the executers and it went very smoothly. The success of this exercise by far surpassed our expectations.”

According to Caceres-Solari, the MSSG Marines and sailors have enjoyed their participation in Cobra Gold, especially the training and strengthening of their relationship with the Royal Thai Marine Corps.