U.S., Thai airmen donate supplies to school children

  • Published
  • By Capt. Kirsten Udd
  • 13th Air Force Public Affairs
KORAT, Thailand (AFNS) --  Service members presented more than $1,300 in supplies to help students at a community outreach event here March 18, during Cope Tiger, a multilateral joint and combined field training exercise.

The school staff welcomed U.S. and Royal Thai Air Force airmen with a donation ceremony to express their gratitude and invited Maj. Greg Richert, the chief of aerospace medicine at 13th Air Force, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, and the medical lead for the exercise, to give a speech.

"This is our second year donating to this school," Major Richert said. "Last year it was one of the schools that our people enjoyed visiting the most."

Donations from exercise participants allowed the outreach team to purchase shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, two water dispensers and eight fans for the children. Participants also stocked the school with sports equipment such as badminton kits, soccer balls and volleyballs.

After the speeches, the airmen and teachers posed for a photo shoot with Worachai Buaban, a 10-year-old mute student with mental illnesses.

He mouthed the Thai words for "thank you" and posed for photos with a new soccer ball.

Following the photos, the airmen toured the school, which has a staff of 75 teachers and accommodates 442 students with either mental illnesses or hearing loss.

During the visit to the dorm rooms, one of the teachers explained that the barracks-style accommodations, with beds crammed edge to edge, housed 60 girls for four-month periods.

"It's a great school to give to because they have good infrastructure but they have no stuff for the kids," said Royal Thai Air Force wing commander Apichart Nathinitiadat, the chief of civic action.

As they toured the school, Airmen were able to see some of last year's donations being used around the school. As they discussed the school's needs, teachers offered suggestions for next year's donation list, including a scrolling marquee so that the hearing-impaired children could understand announcements, and sewing machines so the students can learn a skill.

Capt. Glen Whelan, an F-15 Eagle pilot with the 44th fighter Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan, said he enjoyed the event and the opportunity to be a part of Cope Tiger's community outreach.

"It's a great way, when we're here, not only to interact with the partner militaries, but also get out in the town, do stuff with the local folks and show them that we're not just here as a fighting force, or just to work with their military," Captain Whelan said. "We care about the region and the Thai people as a whole and we're not just here to fly, that's not our only job."

As they departed, the airmen compiled a new shopping list and discussed new ways to raise money for next year's event.

Cope Tiger is an opportunity for U.S., Thailand and Singapore armed forces members to strengthen relationships and demonstrates the U.S commitment to regional peace, security and the humanitarian interests of partners in the region.