PHANOM SARAKHAM DISTRICT, CHACHOENGSAO, Thailand – When a disaster happens, and lives are in danger, time might be the most critical asset first responders have.
“We train together, [so] we can respond together swiftly, safely and respectively, supporting Thai authorities and local communities when called,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. William Prendergrast, commander, 40th Infantry Division, California Army National Guard.
U.S. joint services and partners from the Royal Thai Armed Forces and Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department conducted a humanitarian assistance disaster relief, or HADR, demonstration Feb. 27 during Exercise Cobra Gold 2026 at the Disaster Relief Training Centre, Phanom Sarakham District, Chachoengsao, Thailand.
“Cobra Gold demonstrates our enduring partnership with the Kingdom of Thailand and our collective commitment to readiness and life-saving humanitarian cooperation. Today's HADR demonstration embodies that commitment,” Prendergrast said. “What we saw today is joint search and rescue teams, medical partners and civil-military coordination, which reflects practical training that will save lives if and when disaster strikes.”
The humanitarian assistance and disaster relief component of Exercise Cobra Gold 2026 is designed to sharpen the ability of multinational forces to respond quickly and effectively to real-world crises. The seven fully participating nations in Cobra Gold 26, the United States, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia and the Republic of Korea, conducted combined planning and field drills that emphasize coordination, information sharing and operational awareness during disasters. A centerpiece of this effort is the HADR demonstration, where forces operate side by side in realistic scenarios such as search-and-rescue, medical response and urgent life-saving support.
For U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Ricky Manglona, 420th Chemical Battalion, Washington Army National Guard, training in Thailand during these events is more than just a job; it’s about making sure his family gets assistance when they need it.
“Every time we come and train with the Thais, it's like seeing our extended family again, like coming over for a holiday or family coming back together,” Manglona said. “So we exchange our stories, like where we've been, what we've been doing, and then we catch up pretty quick. We work as a team because we train the same, they know the U.S. standards and we know the Thai standards.”
He was just one of the U.S. Soldiers and Airmen who participated in a joint-entry, hazmat response with the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department, the Washington National Guard Homeland Response Force and the Washington National Guard Civil Support Team.
U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kristen Retherford, 10th Civil Support Team, Washington National Guard, was one of the lead planners and the first participants to enter the obstacle during the demonstration. Her training and experience with the 10th Civil Support Team prepared her to work side by side with the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department.
“The basics of HAZMAT and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear response are the same no matter who is conducting the mission. So whether it is a commercial vehicle spill or leak from a weapon of mass destruction response, the basics are the same,” Retherford said. “You have to assess the situation, detect and monitor for any hazards and make decisions from there to save lives.”
The HADR demonstration emphasizes integrating specialized search-and-rescue units, including teams with search-and-rescue dogs trained to locate survivors in complex environments. In parallel, Cobra Gold 2026 incorporates simulated evacuation and emergency operations, including a medical response, allowing multinational teams to rehearse the safe movement of civilians from crisis areas to secure locations.
Just as important, the HADR training strengthened relationships between military forces and civilian emergency responders, ensuring smoother coordination during floods, earthquakes and other large-scale humanitarian crises.
“We build that continuity, we build those relationships and work together to get better and learn,” Manglona said. “Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department, they're like the best premier firefighters in Thailand. Hands down, they're just the best, and I learn a lot from them every time I come here.”