Thailand: Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation Takes Place within Cobra Gold 2013

Military personnel from the Kingdom of Thailand, the United States, Japan, Indonesia and Malaysia simultaneously participated in a non-combatant evacuation operation and a transportation of Japanese nationals overseas demonstration Feb. 17 during exercise Cobra Gold 2013 in Pattaya, Chonburi province, Kingdom of Thailand.

 During the multinational event, approximately 300 Cobra Gold participants established a secure evacuation control center and evacuated an additional 100 Thai, 48 Japanese and 29 American evacuee roleplayers to a safe evacuation site.

Serving as a combined command and control center for the scenario, personnel in the evacuation control center were responsible for establishing site security, providing medical care for injured evacuees, deconflicting requests and requirements, processing evacuees, and coordinating ground and aerial transportation assets.

Once processed, scenario evacuees were transported to the USS Bonhomme Richard in the Gulf of Thailand by U.S. Marine Corps CH-46E Sea Knight and CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters.

The procedures used during the NEO or TJNO exercised would be used to safely move evacuees out of natural disaster-stricken areas or places affected by civil unrest.

In preparation for the NEO and TJNO, on February 16 approximately 100 military personnel underwent non-lethal weapons and crowd control training. The training covered the employment of non-lethal weapons, riot control techniques, tactics and procedures; and included audio and visual demonstrations.

Elsewhere in Thailand, participants from 13 countries continue the development of an operations plan during the staff exercise, the construction of additions to five schools near completion during engineering civic assistance projects, and field training continues with explosive ordnance disposal and military operations on urban terrain training.

In its 32nd iteration, CG 13 is designed to advance regional security and ensure effective response to regional crises by exercising a robust multinational force from nations sharing common goals and security commitments in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Naval Today Staff, February 18, 2013