Early in 2009, Essex completed a successful exercise Cobra Gold, which had been cut short the previous year.

The Essex was scheduled to depart for Cobra Gold 2012, an annual exercise with Thailand.

She moved on to Jakarta, Indonesia, in late April before steaming to Thailand for Exercise "Cobra Gold '97."

During this time, she participated in four amphibious exercises, including Cobra Gold '88, Valiant Usher '89-1, and Valiant Blitz '89-1.

International friction notwithstanding, the warship joined the previously scheduled exercise "Cobra Gold 82" in the Gulf of Thailand on the 7th.

Subsequent to Cobra Gold, the guided missile destroyer steamed to the North Arabian Sea via Singapore and Diego Garcia, arriving on station on 4 August.

On 15 February 1997, she deployed with the Independence Battle Group and participated in exercises Tandem Thrust '97 and Cobra Gold.

The US government decided to continue holding "Cobra Gold" joint military exercises with the Thai government.

Additionally, the battalion participated in the Deployment-for-Training (DFT) Cobra Gold, promoting interoperability between the nations' military components.

The unit also cross-trained with reconnaissance units from other countries during Cobra Gold in Thailand and Balikatan in the Philippines.