Washington Guard, Thai Partners Strengthen Hazardous Incident Response Capability

CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Focused on improving the Port of Laem Chabang's ability to respond to hazardous incidents, a group of Washington Army National Guard members joined port officials and emergency response agencies from Thailand for a subject matter expert exchange at Laem Chabang, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri, Thailand, Aug. 17-21.

The Washington National Guard and Thailand have been paired in the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program since 2002.

"This engagement continues the longstanding partnership between the Washington National Guard and Thailand while strengthening professional relationships and improving coordinated response capabilities within the port environment," said Capt. Matthew Carey, the officer in charge and medical lead for the exchange.

Fire and hazardous materials responders, medical personnel from Samitivej Sriracha Hospital and representatives from Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation worked alongside Port of Laem Chabang management and planning staff in the exchange that focused on practical training in incident command, hazardous materials response, emergency management, firefighting, rescue operations and patient care.

Throughout the week, participants reviewed emergency response procedures before completing a culminating exercise in the port's rail yard. The scenario required responders to assess an unknown hazard, establish incident command, coordinate across multiple agencies and manage simulated casualties as fire and rescue resources arrived.

"This exchange challenged responders to work through uncertainty, rely on their equipment and coordinate across multiple agencies as the scenario became more complex," Carey said.

Unlike previous scenarios in which responders could immediately identify a hazardous substance through shipping documents, United Nations identification numbers or hazardous-material placards, this exchange provided limited information about the simulated threat. Participants instead relied on detection and monitoring equipment to identify the hazard and determine the appropriate response. The added uncertainty encouraged participants to evaluate changing conditions, communicate across response elements and solve problems as the scenario developed.

The exchange also incorporated realistic communication challenges designed to test how responders shared information and maintained coordination during a complex emergency. As simulated casualties increased, participants adjusted patient-management procedures while integrating fire, rescue, hazardous materials and medical capabilities.

"Each iteration allows us to build on previous lessons while identifying the capabilities we need to develop next," Carey said.

In March, Guard members worked with Thai partners during an exercise combining a simulated lithium battery fire with a shipboard pandemic. That engagement expanded operations beyond the port to Sri Racha Hospital and tested alternate patient-evacuation routes, incident command and interagency coordination. The March exchange marked another step in a relationship that has supported emergency preparedness at Laem Chabang since 2005.

"The port team continues to demonstrate measurable growth during each exchange," Carey said.

The Port exchange has allowed participants to refine their capabilities further while identifying areas for future training. Future exchanges are expected to place additional emphasis on cross-training personnel from different response sections, refining instructional blocks and developing increasingly complex scenarios. Washington and Thai planners are also exploring opportunities to expand tabletop and full-scale exercises.

"We plan to develop training plans immediately, focusing on a collapsed structure incident with air quality degradation and a mass-casualty scenario requiring robust medical and hazardous materials response," Carey said.

The National Guard Bureau recently recognized the Port of Laem Chabang engagement as the 2025 Preparedness Engagement of the Year. The award highlighted the program's development from a recurring subject matter exchange into a mature, multiagency preparedness effort focused on building Thai capacity to manage complex emergencies.

As Thailand's largest deep-water port and a major regional logistics hub, Laem Chabang plays an important role in Thailand's economy and international supply chains. Strengthening emergency preparedness at the port helps protect personnel, sustain critical operations and reduce the wider effects of a major disruption.

The next Port of Laem Chabang exchange is anticipated in March 2027.