THAILAND: U.S. Marines conduct jungle warfare training as part of the annual Cobra Gold joint military exercise

Record ID: 860571

  • Title: THAILAND: U.S. Marines conduct jungle warfare training as part of the annual Cobra Gold joint military exercise
  • Date: 20th February 2013
  • Summary: U.S. MARINE DRINKING SNAKE BLOOD
  • Embargoed: 7th March 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • City:
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: International Relations,Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA4MOWVXWC100TI76UV51VH9H1V
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: United States Marines take part in a jungle survival exercise in Chonburi province on Wednesday (February 20).
    A hundred U.S. and Thai soldiers swapped skills on how to survive in a tropical forest at a Thai Navy base 145 kilometres (90 miles) east of Bangkok.
    Thai soldiers showed U.S. Marines how to catch a cobra with their bare hands and how to find water in the jungle as well as drinking snake blood to survive.
    "(The taste of snake blood was) Terrible, really terrible, but it is a good experience. It's something I can always tell my grandchildren about, " said U.S. Marine Second Lieutenant Ted Powers Some said the exchange of the skills are very useful.
    "The exercise is useful because you'll never know where we'll be training or where any combat environment might be. It is very useful to work with these guys because we can end up in a situation or area just like this," said U.S. Marine Sergeant Robert Dominguez.
    The exercise is intended to teach soldiers to distinguish between different kinds of jungle plants and animals that can be eaten in time of need, and how to survive in a tropical forest.
    "American soldiers have their ready-to-eat food but Thai soldiers have more skills in finding food in the forest," said Warrant Officer and Thai Navy demonstrator Wieng Pimsorn.
    Seven nations - the U.S. Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia - take part in the biggest joint military exercise in Asia with several observing nations including Myanmar. It has been hosted annually by Thailand since 1982 and involves at least 13, 000 military personnel.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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