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31st MEU (SOC) helps Thai orphanage
Lance Cpl. Kamran Sadaghiani
Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special
Operations Capable) made a special visit to the Pattaya Orphanage May 17 to
provide needed labor and spend quality time with the children during
Exercise Cobra Gold 2006.
 Lance
Cpl. Jamie Larson, a motor transportation operator with Marine Expeditionary
Unit Service Support Group 31, plays with children at the playground of the
Pattaya Orphanage during a community relations project May17 support of
Exercise Cobra Gold 2006.
Approximately 30 Marines and sailors with MEU Service Support Group 31, the
MEU’s combat service support element, provided the all-volunteer force.
The Marines and Sailors cut grass, painted walls, conducted repairs and did
gardening. After eating lunch in the facility they continued the gardening
work and proceeded to meet and play with the children.
The most important aspect of the community relation project was that the
interaction between the children and the MSSG personnel played a very
positive and significant role in the children’s lives and the facility’s
personnel, said Navy Lt. Ed Cunha, the MSSG chaplain.
 Tracy
Reneau, an administration clerk with Marine Expeditionary Unit Service
Support Group 31, plays with children at the playground of the Pattaya
Orphanage during a community relations project May17 in support of Exercise
Cobra Gold 2006.
“Community relations projects always have a way of building bridges with
others and showing them that the United States has good intentions and we
are here to help people,” said Cunha, a New Jersey native. “They get to know
us for who we really are and we also get to know more about them.”
He added that community relations projects are a win-win situation.
“We also try to do these so the Marines and sailors appreciate the gift of
life as they help those who cannot help themselves,” Cunha said.
Staff Sgt. Mario Pacheco, the MSSG embark chief, agreed that the Marines do
this out of the goodness of their hearts.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do because I want to come out here
and contribute to a good cause outside of the Marine Corps,” said the Fort
Stockton, Texas native. “It also shows the children that even though we’re
Marines, we do other things than just fight.”
The MEU will be conducting numerous community relations events during their
training in Cobra Gold.
CTF 76-led Build Project reaches midpoint for Cobra Gold
Journalist 3rd Class Adam R. Cole
A civic assistance project to build a pavilion at a local clinic in Rayong,
Kingdom of Thailand, as part of Cobra Gold 2006, reached a mid point May 12
as U.S. Navy Seabees and Royal Thai Navy (RTN) sailors completed the
foundation and the overall structural components to the project.
 U.S.
Navy Construction Electrician 2nd Class Stephen M. Johnson, assigned to
Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, loads concrete mix alongside Royal
Thai navy sailors in order to create the foundation for a pavilion at a
local medical facility in Rayong, Thailand, May 17, 2006, as part of the
Cobra Gold 2006. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class
Adam R. Cole)
The project is taking place at the Ban Yai-da Medical Clinic, which serves a
little more than 6,000 residents in the in the local municipality of
Ta-pong. The pavilion will serve as a place for community exercise programs
and senior health activities, immunizations, and community medical and
dental screening, as well as a place for clinic personnel and patients to
relax.
Leading the project is Lt. Cmdr. Dana Partridge, a naval flight officer
attached to Commander, Amphibious Group (CPG) One’s reserve detachment in
St. Louis. When not serving in active duty status, he is a plant manager for
glass manufacturer Guardian Industries Rayong, based in Rayong. Guardian has
donated much of the supplies for the current project.
“As an international businessman working in Thailand, and as a drilling
reserve officer, the Ban Yai-da community service project allows me to both
give something back to the local community, and to contribute toward the
larger interests of the United States,” said Partridge, who was an
electronic countermeasures officer during his seven years of active duty.
The clinic saw major construction during Cobra Gold 2002 when the main
building was erected in a similar project utilizing U.S. Navy and RTN
personnel.
This year’s project is the result of a partnership between the local
community, an American business based in Thailand (Guardian), and the
Seabees and RTN sailors. Such a full spectrum of people working for the same
goal strengthens the bonds between U.S. and Thailand.
“This is a very good project, and we are very happy with the quality of
construction being used for the project,” said an RTN sailor by the name of
Thansak, who holds the Thai rank of first class petty officer builder.
U.S. Navy Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 4, serving
under Commander, Task Force (CTF) 76 for the exercise, are happy they can
make a difference.
“It’s a lot of fun and it makes you feel good that you can make a
difference,” said Construction Electrician 2nd Class Marlon Romero with NMCB
4.
The project was set to be completed May 23 with an official opening
ceremony.
“Our medical clinic serves 6,056 local people in the Ta-Pong sub-district.
These people are very happy that the project has been donated and built by
the Cobra Gold Team of Guardian, RTN and U.S. Navy Seabees,” said Thachawan
Yamklin, who is head of the Ban-Yai Da Health Center and Medical Clinic.
Task Force 76 is the Navy’s only forward-deployed amphibious force and is
headquartered at White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, Japan, with an
operating detachment in Sasebo, Japan.
Joint service members build classrooms, libraries and assembly buildings at Thai elementary schools
Navy Journalist
3rd Class Tara Cornett
Cobra Gold Humanitarian Civic Assistance projects take place in small towns
throughout the Kingdom of Thailand each year as a key part of the Cobra Gold
exercise.
U.S. Marines from the U.S.
Marine Wing Support Squadron 172 construct a school building in Nakhon
Nayok, Thailand, May 15, 2006, during the engineer civil action project
portion of Exercise Cobra Gold 2006. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Roy
A. Santana)
One of this year’s projects includes the Engineering
Civil Assistance Program, in which hundreds of service members are deployed
to the region to work with Thai forces to construct classrooms, libraries
and assembly buildings for elementary schools.
“This is a great opportunity for our service members to work in a joint
training operation with the Royal Thai forces. It gives them a different
perspective on the way other forces do things, not only construction
techniques, but also in the way they conduct themselves. We work side by
side everyday and we live at the site together,” said 2nd Lt. Jennifer
Carson, combat engineer platoon commander, U.S. Marine Wing Support Squadron
(MWSS) 172. “It’s great for them to get into a different country and build
something that’s going to last forever. They can come back to Thailand and
see these schools anytime and know they made a contribution to the Thai
country.”
Six buildings were built in all. In Nong Mong a library with a computer room
was built by Naval Maintenance Construction Battalion 4, Naval Maintenance
Construction Battalion 17 and the Royal Thai Army 1st Engineer Battalion,
Kings Guard at the Dramaska Foundation. In Lop Buri they also built a
multi-purpose assembly building at Bann Kok Suk School.
In Korat the U.S. Army C Company, 306th Engineer Company, 854th Engineer
Battalion and the Royal Thai Air Force Cobra Gold 06 TF 20 erected a
three-classroom building at Bang Sin Nong Khao School.
In Nakhon Nayok the MWSS 171, MWSS 172 and RTA 2nd Engineer Battalion King’s
Guard constructed two buildings with three classrooms each, one at Ban Dorn
Ja Learn School and the other at Wat Aum Pa One School.
There was also a multi-purpose assembly building built in Chantaburi by
624th CES (USAFR) and RT Marine Engineer Bn.
“We’ve built a lot of camaraderie among our platoon and with the Thais.
They’re wonderful people. Their work is outstanding, they work hard and they
are the most respectful culture I’ve ever met,” said U.S. Marine Cpl. Lonnie
Forrest, combat engineer, MWSS 172. “Together we’ve built a wonderful
schoolhouse. It was a very big experience for all of us. The hard work and
sweat that we’ve all put into the job is a great feeling, because you know
you’ve done something great for the Thai people. It’s a job well done and no
words can explain how you feel after something like this.”
There were approximately 35 combined service members at each site, who took
between six and eight weeks to complete the projects. With one or two
translators on each compound and projects near completion, they all
concurred that there’s no such thing as a language barrier.
“This is my favorite deployment so far. It shows the softer side of the
Marine Corps and it gives the world a better view of what we do. We’ve met
people from around the world and have done some great things that make us
and the Thai people feel good. It’s always good to get out and do something
for the community,” said U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Tyson Barnhart, combat
engineer, MWSS 172.
TAT to promote Thailand
as regional shopping centre
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) plans to promote
Thailand as a regional shopping centre for tourists, a senior TAT official
revealed last week.
The official, Ms. Porntip Onnum, a TAT director for tourism business
investment, told journalists that to achieve the goal, TAT had joined forces
with NCC Management and Development Co., the management of the Queen Sirikit
National Convention Centre, to organize the “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale
Fair 2006” at the centre early next month.
The fair, held from June 1-4, is expected to attract around 200,000 visitors
and generate more than Bt300 million in revenues to local businesses.
“Each year Thailand earns about Bt100 billion from shopping generated by
foreign visitors, or around 30 per cent of the country’s total tourism
revenue. So, TAT believes that the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale Fair 2006 at
The Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre will further publicize the
kingdom’s potential as a regional shopping centre, which will result in more
foreign tourist arrivals in the kingdom for shopping in the future,” said
Ms. Porntip.
Meanwhile, NCC Management and Development Co. projected that a number of
foreign visitors at the Amazing Thailand Grand Sale Fair 2006 would be
honourable guests attending royal and state ceremonies to celebrate the 60th
anniversary of His Majesty the King’s ascension to the throne this year.
“We’re delighted and honoured to welcome the international guests at the
fair,” a top executive of the company told journalists. (TNA)
THAI plans new subsidiary, launches prepaid card
Thai Airways International is studying the establishment
of a subsidiary airline, tentatively called Euarng Luang (Royal Orchid).
Its president, Apinan Sumanaseni, said the new airline would be positioned
between THAI and its low-cost offshoot Nok Air. It is expected to start
operations out of Bangkok International Airport later this year. Apinan
added the new airline was intended to take over domestic routes and some
flights to neighbouring countries currently operated by THAI, while THAI
focused on mid- and long-haul international routes.
THAI is also investing some 350 million baht (US$9.2 million) to obtain
Sabre Airline Solutions’ flight scheduling technology - AirFlite. Apinan
said the software would provide the airline with the tools to evaluate the
profitability of proposed flight schedules, optimise seat capacity, manage
code-share flights, manage slots at different slot controlled airports and
maximise fleet management and profitability across all its domestic,
regional and intercontinental routes.
Implementation of AirFlite will be completed in May next year, and will be
followed by a five-year maintenance contract.
Meanwhile, THAI has launched a prepaid value card in response to increased
competition on regional routes. The THAI Value Card, which the airline hopes
will also improve low-season revenue, can be used for travel to Vientiane,
Phnom Penh, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Singapore, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Five round trips cost 30,000 baht (US$790) for economy travel and 70,000
baht for business class travel. The economy class card is valid until
September 30 while the business class card is valid until December 31. (TTG)
Swedish tourists set to return to Khao Lak
Khao Lak is the area where the biggest number of Swedish
tourists died when the Tsunami hit the Andaman coast of Thailand. But in a
positive development for Thailand tourism, Fritidsresor, the Swedish tour
operator previously sending the largest number of tourists to Khao Lak, has
started to promote tour programs to the area again for this autumn, after
first consulting with the Tsunami Victims’ Relative Association.
The latest statistics showed Swedish tourist arrivals to Thailand at Bangkok
International Airport between January - March 2006 to be 67,808, an increase
of 16.25 percent over the same period in 2005.
The company feels the natural beauty of the beach has revived quickly and
many hotels have reopened to receive guests whereas villagers are also ready
to welcome visitors again. A company spokesman said the decision to bring
back Swedish tourists into this area had to be carefully considered, however
and also take into account the sensitive feelings of the victims’ relatives.
According to Thailand’s tourism authorities, the tour program will begin in
November this year. Two hotels which the company will book for their clients
are the least affected or almost not affected at all by the Tsunami. Another
hotel has just built a new accommodation area for families.
Mats Dahlquist, marketing director of Fritidsresor said, “There is an
opportunity to start sending our tourists in winter, but we still hesitate
to make a decision. Many people lost their relatives there, meanwhile, if we
do not send tourists there, it means that we do not help the villagers in
that area to earn a living. It is difficult to make a balance.”
Bob Stigsson, one of the founders of the Tsunami Victims’ Relatives
Association said, “The best thing is to start as soon as possible. It is to
help villagers there, and I think that most of the members have the same
idea. We have been talking about this and many relatives of the victims have
already traveled to the area, and we are ready to go there again”.
Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Stockholm office has been putting its effort
into communicating with tour operators and tourists in Sweden regarding the
current development of the affected areas and the readiness of tourism
facilities to accommodate visitors once again. (eTN Asia)
Better access for Andaman Coast
An airline featuring a seaplane fleet servicing hotels
and resorts along the Andaman Coast is set to be launched in July.
Destination Air, an offshoot of resort developer Destination Properties,
said it would launch with one 10-seat Cessna 208 Caravan and hoped to have
another two 208s in service by January. The airline also expects to
introduce a smaller Cessna 206 amphibian aircraft by July or August. That
aircraft will be used for smaller personalised charters and excursions.
Destination Air managing director, Mr Henry Gorman, said: “There are very
high-end resorts along the Andaman Coast, but a low-end transport
infrastructure. We will give high-end tourists and owners of properties
there a much more efficient way of accessing them.”
Mr Gorman said the airline would initially offer charter flights to Phi Phi,
before expanding quickly to service Koh Lanta and Krabi. Destination Air was
also considering expanding to offer flights out of Surat Thani, he said,
adding it would also offer scenic flights over Phuket. “We will go from
purely a charter situation to a seaplane shuttle service.”
Agents would be able to book through all major global distribution systems.
Mr Gorman said the airline had been inundated with requests when it attended
ITB Berlin this year.
“Currently, getting to some resorts at Phi Phi, Koh Lanta and Krabi involves
a long time and not particularly comfortable boat rides. People are flying
into Phuket from places like Frankfurt, London and Hong Kong and then have
to take an arduous half-day boat trip to some of the five-star resorts. I
think there is a market there for a fast, comfortable and very enjoyable
flight to these destinations.”
Mr Gorman said a previous Phuket-based seaplane operator failed because it
only had one plane. “You must have two or three planes to maintain the
service, since planes need maintenance. Reliability is the key.”
Diethelm Travel Asia chief operating officer, Mr Richard Brouwer, said he
would adopt a wait-and-see approach: “We are ready to promote the airline,
but everything has to be in place - the insurance, routes and times,” he
said.
Asian Trails group managing director, Mr Luzi Matzig, said: “An airline like
this began services just before the tsunami, but didn’t survive when all the
resorts closed. It is fantastic news to hear that another one has come
along.” (TTG)
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