Photo By Master Sgt. Kamaile Casillas | U.S. Airmen from Kadena Air Base, Japan, dance with students from Ban Tanod Poonpol...... read more read more
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KORAT ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE BASE, Thailand — The U.S., along with Thai and Singaporean military members joined together during a civic assistance program to give back to the local community here.
In its 23rd year, exercise Cope Tiger is an annual multilateral exercise aimed at improving combat readiness and interoperability between the Republic of Singapore air force, Royal Thai air force, and U.S. Air Force, while concurrently enhancing the three nations' military relations.
It is also an opportunity for the three countries' forces to give back to the Thai communities surrounding Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base.
This year’s Cope Tiger participants, from the RTAF, the RSAF, and USAF donated a water filtration system to the students of Ban Tanod Poonpol Witthaya School in the Nakhon Ratchasima Province, ensuring they have fresh, clean, cold water to drink.
RSAF and RTAF medical personnel also provided necessary medical treatment and dental care to locals from the nearby area; visual acuity tests were also provided by the RTAF ophthalmology team, and haircuts were accomplished by RTAF barbers.
In addition, the school also received books, school supplies and sports equipment from the three partner nations, as well as a new playground for the younger children.
Airmen with the 44th Fighter Squadron, 44th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 18th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron from Kadena Air Base, Japan, joined in on the celebration with local foods, performances from students and the Royal Thai air force Band. During the ceremony, children were able to interact with the Airmen and learn more about the people flying and supporting exercise operations at the neighboring Royal Thai Air Base.
While the civic assistance program took place at the nearby school, the first of many large force employment exercise scenarios for Cope Tiger 17 took place on base.
Prior to today's first LFE, aviators spent two days planning missions, while learning each other's tactics, techniques and procedures and how to effectively overcome language barriers to safely execute complex missions sets in a controlled environment.
As the exercise progresses, scenarios will include larger aircraft formations in the air at one time, working on the same complex scenario. On average, over 50 aircraft from the three nations will be working together in the air, under simulated combat stressors at the same time.
“These are complex missions that need to be safely executed, while still being tactically effective,” said Lt. Col. Alexander Haddad, chief of standardization and evaluations with the 44th Fighter Squadron from Kadena Air Base, Japan. “And while learning to integrate in a combat scenario with different nations can be a challenge, we are learning from each other and are better prepared to face the stressors of combat missions.”
The types of training conducted during Cope Tiger 17 include: airborne and land-based control of aerial missions, electronic warfare, mission planning, in-flight interoperability, basic maneuver training, and close air support training. In order to more effectively accomplish the diverse types of training on the exercise agenda, flying forces from each of the participating countries will be divided into two teams to maximize interoperability and the sharing of tactics, techniques and procedures.
The exercise is slated to conclude March 31.
| Date Taken: | 03.22.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.22.2017 16:46 |
| Story ID: | 227738 |
| Location: | KORAT, TH |
| Web Views: | 87 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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