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 Thailand.

“Our Thai counterparts exhibited significant interest in the evolving landscape of cyber threats, as well as proactive measures for prevention and mitigation,” said Capt. Matt Carey, team leader. “Compared to the previous year, we observed increased attendance and participation from a broader range of organizations throughout the region, not just those directly associated with the port. Furthermore, the medical component of the exchange was expanded, featuring returning doctors, nurses, and EMTs, alongside the participation of Thai paramedics from their newly established program.”

Key goals of the exchange included evaluating and addressing cyber threats, strengthening security protocols, reinforcing incident command fundamentals, and improving medical and first responder capabilities. Participants engaged in decontamination procedures and set up a command center to simulate a coordinated multi-agency response to major hazards and mass casualties in the port environment.

The deep-water Port of Laem Chabang on the Gulf of Thailand facilitates trade in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Northwest. Most of its cargo enters the United States through the Port of Tacoma. 

Since 2005, Washington National Guard members have conducted exchanges in Pattaya, Thailand, focusing on security, incident command, hazardous materials, chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear explosive preparedness and response, medical services 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. “There are significant secondary and tertiary effects when operations are interrupted.”

While the port exchange remains a cornerstone of the State Partnership Program, the material’s technical nature necessitates including subject matter experts, particularly those with practical experience in incident command systems, fire, HAZMAT and medical response within their civilian capacities.

Lt Col. Andy Collins, the ICS lead, who also serves as a commander in the Seattle Fire Department, exemplifies this blend of expertise.

“It is imperative that we leverage this specialized expertise, and we are fortunate to have Soldiers from the 420th Chemical Battalion, who bring a wealth of knowledge in chemical decontamination response within the incident response field,” Collins said.

Carey and Collins said the continued success of the SPP hinges on the strategic use of people across the Washington National Guard with a combination of specialized military and civilian skills.

“With 171 responders from the Port of Laem Chabang, including fire, police, HAZMAT, medical and other incident response personnel participating alongside our instructors, the importance of expertise cannot be overstated,” Collins said.

The next exchange at the port is planned in late summer.