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353rd Special Operations Group travels to Thailand for Cobra Gold 2006

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Marilyn C. Holliday
  • 353rd Special Operations Group Public Affairs
About 200 members of the 353rd Special Operations Group at Kadena Air Base, Japan, packed up their equipment and headed to U-Taphao, Thailand, for the 25th anniversary of Cobra Gold 2006 exercise. 

Hosted by the Kingdom of Thailand, the joint combined multi-national exercise is designed to ensure regional peace and strengthen the ability of the Royal Thai Armed Force to defend Thailand or respond to regional contingencies. 

“The most important aspect of this deployment is our positive, working relationship with the Thai military,” Lt. Col. Gumby Wormley, mission commander from the 353 SOG, said. “It’s all about maintaining and improving our military-to-military relationships.” 

For Tech Sgt. Roger Riddle, combat airspace manager, who worked 22 days shoulder-to-shoulder with his Royal Thai Navy counterparts, the experience was rewarding. 

“The work environment was great,” Sergeant Riddle said. “They are all very good at what they do and easy to work with. I learned something new every day.” 

In his role, Sergeant Riddle is the liaison between the group’s pilots and the local national air traffic controllers. He has deployed to Thailand three other times since being assigned in Japan in August 2005. 

Aircrews, maintainers and support personnel focused on the day-to day mission alongside both members from other nations as well as military services. 

During the month-long deployment, missions included airdrops, air refueling, aerial resupply, static line and high altitude and low opening personnel jumps, infiltration and exfiltration of personnel and airfield operations. 

The exercise also offers SOG members an opportunity to gain and improve skills involving terrain that is different from home station in Okinawa, Japan. Mountains, water and jungles were all included in the exercise planning. 

The U-Taphoa airstrip is located on a Royal Thai Naval Base 60 miles southeast of Bangkok, Thailand.