Capt. Alistair E. Howard interacts with children during exercise Cobra Gold. U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Alistair E. Howard interacts with children during exercise Cobra Gold at Baan Pong Wua School in Chantaburi province, Thailand, on Jan. 18, 2011. Howard is a civil affairs officer assigned to the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force. Cobra Gold is the latest in a series of Thai-U.S. military exercises to ensure regional peace through a strategy of cooperative engagement. SHARE: Download: Full Size (0.09 MB) Credit: VIRIN: 437213-Z-HGO56-224.jpg Photo Gallery