Story by U.S. Army Sgt. Isaac Copeland, Combined Joint Information Bureau

BAN CHAN KHREM, Thailand — U.S. Marines with the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, Royal Thai Marine Corps combat engineers, and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force are working together to construct a multi-purpose school building in Ban Chan Khrem, Chanthaburi province, as part of Cobra Gold 2025’s Engineering Civic Assistance Program site four.

ENCAP provides critical infrastructure support to local communities while enhancing interoperability between U.S. forces and regional partners. This year’s project focuses on building a new facility at Ban Chan Khrem School, which will serve as additional classroom space, administrative offices, and a venue for community events.

“This project ties directly into Cobra Gold’s mission of strengthening relationships and enhancing interoperability with our partners in the region,” said 2nd Lt. Scott Laane, a combat engineer officer with the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group. “We work, live, and train alongside our Thai and Japanese counterparts, learning from each other while improving our ability to operate together in real-world situations.”

This year’s ENCAP project location is selected based on community needs. Currently, the school’s administrative offices are housed within classrooms, limiting student space. The new structure allows staff to move into dedicated office areas, opening more student classrooms. The building also serves as a venue for religious, cultural, and community events, reducing the need for residents to hold town halls and gatherings in open-air locations over a mile away.

“The community is going to benefit greatly from this project,” Laane said. “This school is the heart of the village, and having a multi-use facility here makes a real difference.”

U.S., Thai, and Japanese engineers integrate their unique capabilities throughout construction, exchanging techniques and operating one another’s equipment. The hands-on experience improves their ability to work together on future missions.

“We are sharing equipment and construction methods, helping each other adapt to different tools and techniques,” Laane said.

Beyond the construction site, Marines engaged with the local community and students, fostering relationships beyond the mission. Service members participated in soccer matches with Thai and Japanese forces, shared meals with students after school, and attended a school talent show on Valentine’s Day.

“Every Wednesday, we play soccer with our joint forces, and sometimes the local community joins in,” Laane said. “The students come by after school to watch us work and hang out. It has been a great experience.”

The commitment from the Ban Chan Khrem community is evident throughout the project. Local residents took an active role, volunteering their time and resources to assist the engineers.

“When we were applying stucco, a large number of people from the village came out to help,” Laane said. “It showed how much they care about this project, and it motivates us to push through long hours to get the job done.”

The project is not just about building infrastructure but also about strengthening partnerships and fostering lasting friendships.

“The Marines of 9th Engineer Support Battalion have done an exceptional job alongside our Thai and Japanese counterparts to provide a meaningful resource to the community in Ban Chan Khrem, while bolstering the interoperability between our forces,” said Col. Stuart W. Glenn, the commanding officer of Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia and Cobra Gold’s USMARFOR. “ENCAP projects like this strengthen our ability to operate together in support of regional security and stability and bring us closer together through partnership and cooperation”

The Ban Chan Khrem School project is a testament to the enduring cooperation between the U.S., Thai, Japanese, and other partner forces. As engineers prepare to complete their work, they leave behind more than a building; they leave behind a stronger, more connected community.