Cope Angel wings soar across mainland Japan

Photo By Staff Sgt. Sadie Colbert | Two Japan Air Self-Defense Force pararescuemen from Akita Air Base, Japan, respond to a simulated downed pilot as a UH-60J Black Hawk flies overhead during exercise Cope Angel 17 at Draughon Range near Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 9, 2017. All pilots are equipped with survival equipment for situations they would have to eject from their aircraft and wait to be rescued. The equipment includes life-saving survival equipment capable for use during an ejection and waiting for rescue. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Sadie Colbert)  

MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JAPAN

08.14.2017

Story by Airman 1st Class Sadie Colbert 

35th Fighter Wing

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan –

Team Misawa members alongside the Japan Air Self-Defense Force executed exercise Cope Angel 17 at Draughon Range and Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 9, for the first time on mainland Japan.

CA17 is an annual bilateral event between the JASDF, known as the Koku-Jieitai, and U.S. Air Force in order to fortify interoperability between Team Misawa and the Koku-Jieitai pararescuemen. This allows for the development of exceptional Koku-Jieitai and USAF unit leaders to head the world’s most powerful teams in the Indo-Asia- Pacific region.

“It’s really important we perform trainings like Cope Angel 17 to assess our capabilities to work with the JASDF,” said Capt. Phillip McCoy, a 13th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot. “It’s very possible they could be the rescue asset for our pilots because if something were to happen and there is a life-threatening situation, time is critical, especially with the extreme weather we can get here in Misawa.”

In the past, the Koku-Jieitai Okinawa Prefecture Rescue Squadron and Kadena Air Base, Japan, conducted the exercise on Okinawa island. This year, Team Misawa worked with the Koku-Jieitai Akita Prefecture Rescue Squadron pararescuemen and their UH-60J Black Hawk to execute training contingency.

“This training allows us to build relationships and give CA17 an opportunity to build a better exercise environment and enhance our unit-to- unit coordination with JASDF,” said Master Sgt. Reid Beveridge, the 35th Operations Support Squadron superintendent and CA17 overlord.

With the exercise held on mainland Japan, it gave the APRS the convenience to heighten their rescue procedures and overcome any language barriers with U.S. personnel so they can respond to that situation more fluidly.

“The language barrier was the biggest issue, but it will continually improve during exercises like this,” said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Dylan Gorr, a 35th Medical Support Squadron emergency medical technician. “The opportunity to execute search and rescue exercise is rare in Misawa and it is a great opportunity to hone our skills alongside JASDF.”

The scenario started out when an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot simulated ejection at Draughon Range. The downed pilot used his survival training, ensuring his safety and stabilized the situation. Once the scene cleared, he initiated rescue efforts by sending coordinates and waited for a recovery team.

“The coordination was a big piece we wanted to focus on in this exercise,” Beveridge said. “How we get the right people, like the military decision makers and tasking authorities, to approve the rescue before it takes off.”

Beveridge added the goal of the exercise was to initiate, retrieve and transport the individual to the 35th Medical Group where they would simulate treatment.

After working with the APRS, the Koku-Jieitai pararescue team said they do want to make the CA17 exercise an annual event for mainland Japan in addition to Okinawa.

“Our pilots are the tip of the spear,” Beveridge said “Our whole wing exists so our pilots can take off, ‘fight tonight’ and defend the U.S. and its allies. Our personnel recovery mission gives them the confidence to go out there and fight if an incident like this were to happen.”

• Date Taken: 08.14.2017
• Date Posted: 08.14.2017 18:26
• Story ID: 244857
• Location: MISAWA AIR BASE, AOMORI, JP
• Hometown: MEDINA, OH, US