Sgt. 1st Class Brett Thorpe (right) U.S. Army, instructs Royal Thai soldiers from the 1st Special Forces Regiment, Camp Pawai, Thailand, on proper techniques of intravenous infusion on May 17, 1998, during Exercise Cobra Gold '98. Cobra Gold '98 is the latest in a continuing series of U.S.-Thai military exercises designed to ensure regional peace and strengthen the ability of the Royal Thai Armed Forces to defend Thailand. The training includes joint combined air, land and sea operations. Cobra Gold is the largest strategic mobility exercise involving the U.S. Pacific Command forces this year. Thorpe is deployed for the exercise from Special Forces Operations Detachment A-183, Fort Lewis, Wash.