The troops are coming! The troops are coming! And everybody in Pattaya and Thailand are excited because they are a great bunch of guys and gals and they spend money.
My experiences with the troops in the years gone past are very good. The troops are a clean cut, well-behaved and fun group. The troops are briefed about the good, the bad and the ugly of Pattaya.
The best part is that sometimes they bring the U.S. Navy band to entertain. They usually put on a performance unannounced. I saw that the U. S. Navy band played at the Royal Garden Plaza, Big-C Pattaya Klang and on Walking Street. You just have to be lucky to hear them perform because they do not advertise when they will entertain. I think that is because of security. However, believe me when I say that they are very good.
This year “Cobra Gold”, as the military exercises are called, will take place in April and May. There are no set dates. I think it is a security thing. The troops seem to come in slowly and then peak and then they’re gone.
The rumor has it that they will be in the northeastern part of Thailand training in anti-terrorism and forest-fire fighting. Five countries will be training. The five countries include Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Mongolia and the United States. There will also be ten other countries observing the training.
The U. S. military will provide training on how to use aircraft to fight forest fires and to assist rescue operations, a source at the Supreme Command said.
Anti-terrorism training will be a major part of the Cobra Gold exercises, the source added.
The number of U. S. soldiers taking part this year will more than double from approximately 5,000 troops last year to approximately 12,000 troops this year.
So, let’s get this party started and welcome the troops.
Live, love and laugh.
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