Recently, the 1st Battalion, 205th Regimental Training Institute of the Washington Army National Guard conducted a fruitful Stryker subject matter exchange (SMEE) in Chon Buri, Thailand, strengthening its alliance with the Royal Thai Army.
This exchange, held from May 6-17, marked the fifth SMEE between the two entities, facilitated by the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program since 2022.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ricky Thomas, leading the exchange team, outlined the mission: “Our goal with this visit was to execute a Stryker development exchange in Thailand for the Royal Thai Army’s 112th Stryker Regiment, further solidifying the partnership between our forces.”
In May 2022, eight members of the Royal Thai Army visited the Yakima Training Center for a SMEE with instructors from the Washington National Guard’s Stryker leader’s course. The program, covering diverse Stryker aspects like weapon systems and vehicle operations, saw enthusiastic participation from the Thai soldiers.
“The Royal Thai Army candidates selected for this exchange were eager to learn and fully committed to the training,” Thomas remarked.
These exchanges aim to cultivate Stryker instructors within the Royal Thai Army, empowering them to disseminate their expertise among their peers. The partnership has cultivated robust camaraderie between the soldiers of both nations, with Thomas underlining the strong bonds forged in previous engagements.
Beyond the training, social activities further solidified their friendship. The next engagement is slated for the end of summer in Thailand, continuing the collaborative spirit and fostering enduring relationships between the two military units.