Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

The biggest multinational combined training in the Pacific area, Cobra Gold 2015, held a Field Training Exercise (FTX) in Thailand for two days on February 9 and 10, starting with jungle tactical training. Thirty-six soldiers of search party, Korea First and Second Marine Division, 50 of Force Recon, the subordinate of the U.S. Marine III-MEF, and 30 of Long Range, Thai Marine search unit participated in this FTX. The exercise consisted of jungle tactical training, Close Quarter Battle (CQB), survival training, and sea and air infiltration training and it enhanced their camaraderie. 

# “Invincible Marine Corps” – no problem with the jungle

In the middle of the jungle in Rattawen Marine base located in Sattahip, in the Eastern part of Thailand, there wasn’t a single ray of sunshine. Beads of sweat formed on soldiers’ foreheads and streamed down their cheeks and finally onto the fallen leaves, making a unique tune.

Overshadowing the late winter, the local temperature reached 32℃ and the humidity 80%. Charlie Team consisting of nine Korean Marines, including Second Lieutenant Yu Jun-Hyuk, and five American and five Thai Marines took a step toward the target spot in full gear weighing 10kg. 

But the opposing forces appearing in the middle of nowhere and the dense jungle, rarely visited by anyone, would not let the team make a step forward easily.

In particular, an overgrown thornbushes penetrated combat uniforms, leaving red scars on their bodies, and kudzu vines was always holding the team members’ ankles.

While they were repeating stop-and-go, Gunny Sergeant Park Hyung-Jun, who conducted a search and reconnaissance mission, discovered ambushes and sent the stop sign. All the team members sat on their knees to take a full range of guard and kept their eyes on the situation.

Korea, American and Thai Marines made a decision to circle around to avoid a gunfight with the enemy. It then took 5km to get the target point instead of 4km. 

Two hours wandering in the jungle. I was given a five-minute break. It was a long time since I had been so exhausted, and I desperately wanted to quit this training.

"Why am I here?" were my thoughts of great regret. Just then, someone gave me a canteen without a word. It was tepid water, but it tasted sweeter than honey. I felt stronger when my “fellow soldier” encouraged me that there was only 1km left, pushing me to keep going. 

After an hour, the target spot was finally in view. All the Marines from three different countries high-fived each other as an evaluator announced “Mission completed!”

# A standing ovation for outstanding mission capability

The joy of achievement, however, wasn’t long-lasting. They did not perform the task regarding handling and transporting the wounded as they chose to avoid the engagement.

Each Marine from three countries selected those to serve as the injured and carried them over their shoulders using a stretcher. They had finished the jungle tactical training as they rapidly completed a 3km march and arrived at the post.

The Marines took part in the jungle tactical training by dividing into “Alpha”, “Bravo” and “Charlie” teams. Each team competed in good faith, heating up the training ground even hotter than the intense jungle heat.

They started the very day with a rock face climbing training. Our Marines’ superb mission capability shined through in this training. 

The Korean Marines showed off, climbing down the 20-30m rock face in an instant as they supported their bodies with a single strip, without any safety equipment. Their masterful movement extracted applause from the other Marines. 

Marines from Korea, the U.S. and Thailand organized a combined team consisting of 15 members and rotated a hurried and reverse rappel. When a team member climbed down, they gave him the thumbs-up sign, displaying comradeship. 

Our Marines particularly achieved the desired result with no injured person throughout the training.

Captain Kang Ji-Hun, the company commander who leads the Korean Marine search party, said, “The first overseas jungle tactical training is a very meaningful combined training. Through this training, we, the Marines, could improve the ability to conduct the mission assigned to us perfectly no matter how harsh the battlefield.”

Cobra Gold Combined Training was first held by the U.S. Pacific command and Thailand Army headquarters in 1981. It is a humanitarian, peaceful regular training to end conflict by deploying the multinational Army into a virtual country where an armed conflict occurs and to stabilize it.

We joined the training as an observer in 2009 and dispatched 332 sailors and Marines and Landing Ship Tanks (LST) in 2010 for the first time. 

By Byeong-No, Yun <trylover@dema.mil.kr>

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