Guard Partnership Exchange Strengthens Security at Thai Port

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.

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