An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Sept. 6, 2024

Guard Partnership Exchange Strengthens Security at Thai Port

By Joseph Siemandel, Joint Force Headquarters - Washington National Guard

LAEM CHABANG, Thailand - Eight Washington National Guard members recently visited the Port of Laem Chabang in the longest-running exchange in the 22-year State Partnership Program relationship between Washington and the Kingdom of Thailand.

From Aug. 16-27, the team participated in a multifaceted subject matter exchange with port personnel. Goals included:
Evaluating cyber threats and security.
Reviewing incident command synchronization basics.
Improving first response and medical response during a mass casualty exercise.
Reviewing and practicing decontamination procedures.
Setting up a command center during an integrated multi-department response to hazards and casualties.
“The purpose of this exchange was achieved in full,” said Capt. Matthew Carey, a medical officer and lead for the exchange.

The Port of Laem Chabang is a deep-water port on the Gulf of Thailand that is critical to trade in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Northwest. 

Much of the cargo from the port, one of the busiest in Asia, enters the United States through the Port of Tacoma. Since 2005, Guardsmen have traveled from Seattle to Pattaya, Thailand, to take part in a multi-day exchange at the port focused on security, incident command systems, hazardous materials and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear explosive preparation and response, medical and crisis communication.

“There is significant strategic value to our partner port’s ability to quickly respond to hazards and accidents, mitigating economic and operational impact,” said Carey. “As the only deep water Port in Thailand, there is significant secondary and tertiary effects when operations are interrupted.

“This was the first time cyber classes and assessments were provided,“ he said. “There have been recent cyber ransom attacks at the terminals within the port, which emphasized the importance of cyber security.”

The Washington National Guard has focused a number of exchanges in the past few years on cybersecurity.

“Integration of cyber into each subject matter expert exchange moving forward would be helpful, as cyber-specific classes do not take up the majority of the class time,” said Carey. “We need to continue identifying cyber integration with effects and expected response for next missions.”

This year’s exchange also shared best practices preparing for emergency response in a port environment. 

The next exchange is planned in 2025 at the Port of Laem Chabang.

 

 

Related Articles
Master Sgt. Shane Bedard, Headquarters, 141st Air Refueling Wing, Washington Air National Guard talks with members of the El Salvador military as they conduct tactical combat casualty care training from Feb. 22 – March 8, 2025.
Guard Members Instruct Life-Saving Skills in El Salvador
By Joseph Siemandel, | April 7, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Washington National Guard members have instructed Tactical Combat Casualty Care and Combat Medic training in El Salvador.They worked with the Defense Institute for Medical Operations on the training that...

Washington National Guard Soldiers and Port of Laem Chabang firefighters.
Washington Guard, Thai Partners Focus on Hazard Response
By Joseph Siemandel, | March 21, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - The Washington National Guard concluded an all-hazards-response exchange at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, March 1-11 as part of the 23-year partnership between Washington and the Kingdom of...

Lt. Col. Khadidja Harrell, flight surgeon with 194th Medical Group, Washington Air National Guard, poses with other medics during the disaster relief and humanitarian assistance exercise Cobra Gold 2025 Feb. 26 – 27 in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand.
Air Guard Surgeon Supports Cobra Gold 2025 Exercise
By Joseph Siemandel, | March 14, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Military members and first responders from seven nations gathered at the Disaster Relief Training Center in Cha Choeng Sao, Thailand, for Exercise Cobra Gold Feb. 26-27. Participants from the United...