Never let it be said that the toughness of a Marine doesn’t start from the inside out.  That’s what soldiers from six nations are set to prove in the remote province of Rayong, Thailand, as part of the annual Cobra Gold war games, in which soldiers from six nations gather together to train in jungle combat and survival techniques.  Among the things they learn are how to catch snakes bare-handed for eating purposes.  Oh yeah, they also eat bugs, frogs, and other assorted nasties.

The gathering of 14,000 soldiers to eat and train together not only promotes practical skills, but it also serves as a way for the soldiers of many nations to come together to promote peace and understanding in often contentious areas where US military forces have bases.   So it’s not all about eating bugs and irritating PETA activists by reminding them where food comes from, it’s also an important morale booster.  Plus, where else are you going to learn how to catch a cobra bare-handed?

Tags: bushtucker, Cobra Gold, United States military, war games, Rayong, Thailand, unusual food, jungle food, survival training, six-nation war games

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