US Marines, Sailors Showcase New Thai School during Cobra Gold 2011

Marines, sailors showcase new school at dedication ceremony during Cobra Gold 2011

III Marine Expeditionary Force Public Affairs

02.15.2011 Story by Staff Sgt. Leo Salinas CHANTABURI PROVINCE, Thailand - Foul weather could not drive away the childrenís smiles and laughter during a school dedication ceremony here Feb. 15.

U.S. Marine 2nd Lt. Isaiah L. Camejo shakes the hands of Royal Thai Marine Lt. Jg. Saoad and Republic of Korea Marine 1st Lt. Jang Chung Soo during the Baan Pong Wua School dedication ceremony Feb. 15. Camejo is the detachment officer-in-charge of Combat Engineer Platoon, Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Saoad is with Engineer Battalion, Marine Division, Royal Thai Navy. Soo is with the ROK Marine Engineer Detachment. Cobra Gold 2011 is a yearly multinational, joint training exercise designed to improve partner-nation interoperability. Photo by Staff Sgt. Leo Salinas

Marines and sailors with Marine Wing Support Squadron 172, Marine Wing Support Group 17, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force, attached to 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade Forward, III MEF, along with their Royal Thai and Republic of Korea counterparts, presented the Baan Pong Wua School, built during Exercise Cobra Gold 2011, to the governor of Chantaburi province during the ceremony.

Local school children danced, sang and put on a Muy Thai kickboxing demonstration for the community and honored guests that included 3rd MEB Brig. Gen. Mark A Brilakis.

"It's a beautiful day, not because of the rain or mud, but because we can dedicate the school for the children," said Brilakis. "These Marines will forever remember building this school for the children. What started as a project, soon became a labor of love."

The school, one of eight engineering civic assistance projects completed during Cobra Gold 2011, was built through a multinational operation. Republic of Korea engineers, a Royal Thai Marine Corps combat engineer battalion, and MWSS-172 combat engineers built the school that will also serve as a multi-purpose building with a focus on vocational training.

Construction began Jan. 14, and was completed 37 days later Feb. 15. The school will house kindergarten through 6th grade. It will also serve as a community center for the local area.

"It's not going to just help of the school, but the larger community as well," said Navy Lt. Com. Randy S. Dee, Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force planner, Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III MEF. "The school kinds of becomes a center of a lot of things. It's going to offer more classes and the community will be able to utilize it as small community center as well."

Dee, who is participating on his fifth Cobra Gold, said he not only enjoys the people of the area, but also the bonds that were built during the engineering process.

"Any time you can have multinational partners work together, it's going to help everyone. You can learn from those folks and build on their experiences to synergize the efforts," said Dee. "It takes a few days to get through the language barriers, but a look, stare, or gesture helps overcome those things."

The aesthetic features of the building were praised by the military leaders. Royal Thai Marine Col. Saniroj Thumayos, deputy commander of Combined Joint Civil Military Operations Task Force, took notice of three large flag poles that would fly the three nations flags.

"I have learned a lot from the U.S. and ROK Marines. I have learned how very professional and dedicated they are," said Thumayos. "They work very hard, and their work comes from their heart. From the Thai people, we thank them very much."

U.S. Marine 2nd Lt. Isaiah L. Camejo, detachment officer in charge, Combat Engineer Platoon, MWSS-172, said the experiences with the local community was beneficial to the junior Marines, many on their first deployment in the Marine Corps.

Some of the junior U.S. Marines, when they were not holding paint brushes or hammers, taught English lessons to the school children and introduced the games of American football and Frisbee. They also helped in a repairing swing set and, with extra building materials left over, made a concrete driveway to the school and a v-ditch trench that would protect the school from flooding.

The U.S. Marines also brought boxes of toys and clothes from Operation Goodwill that were donated to the local community, said Camejo. About 400 people showed up from the rural area.

"A lot of children walk around in socks. Because of Operation Goodwill, they were able to get shoes," he said.

"The Marines were able to foster relationships with the Thais and [show] another aspect of the Marine Corps winning the hearts and minds," he said.

Cobra Gold 2011 is an annual regualarly scheduled, multinational, joint training exercise.

For more information about Cobra Gold 2011, visit www.marines.mil/cobragold2011 orwww.facebook.com/exercisecobragold .