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Over 2,000 participants developed their skills to increase combat readiness and interoperability during the annual trilateral field training Exercise Cope North 2020 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 12-28.
On the final morning of the exercise, pilots and aircrew from the U.S., Japan and Australia took-off and formed up alongside three distinguished visitors in the training airspace near Andersen AFB.
U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Kevin Schneider, U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Forces commander, Japan Air Self-Defense Force Lt. Gen. Hiroshi Kaminotani, Japan Air Defense Command vice commander, and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Air Vice-Marshal Joe Lervasi, Air Commander Australia, suited up and took to the sky to demonstrate the tactics, techniques and procedures their Airmen have been sharpening.
“It feels great and I think it’s a symbol of the strength of not one, but two alliances,” said Schneider. “The fact that the three of us are able to do this together here in Guam is just outstanding.
As we take a look at the potential for crises and conflict in the Indo-Pacific region we realize that we have to be more adaptable and more flexible. One of the unique strengths that we have is the relationship we share with our allies. Cope North is an outstanding example of like-minded partners with a shared vision and a shared set of values that can come together and do good.”
Cope North allows the U.S. and allied forces to practice humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) efforts together to prepare for and recover from the devastating effects of natural disasters. This year’s HADR and medical field training exercises brought participants to the islands of Tinian and Rota to train under the direction of the Cope North 2020 Multinational Task Force commander RAAF Group Captain Mark Larter. This marked the first time a multinational task force was developed as a part of the exercise.
“It was a unique opportunity to provide that leadership role in particular for HADR, which really represents a lot of the contingencies we need to be prepared for here in the Indo-Pacific,” said Lervasi. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to work closely with our partner nations in this region on how we need to come together and assist local communities in the event of a disaster.”
Participants also trained using a new warfighting concept that Pacific Air Forces is operationalizing to ensure agility, deterrence, and resiliency in a contested or degraded environment. Honing the agile combat employment (ACE) concept of operations during Cope North allows for more flexibility, whether that be in a contested environment or in a location without established infrastructure, such as during times of crisis or disaster response.
“Cope North allows each nation to hone vital readiness skills and improve our abilities to work with each other within a multitude of mission areas including air superiority, interdiction, tactical air lift and aerial refueling capabilities,” said Kaminotani.
This year marked the 10th iteration of the U.S., Japan and Australia training together as a part of Cope North, demonstrating their continued resolve to promote security and stability throughout the Indo-Pacific.
| Date Taken: | 03.13.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 03.17.2020 19:43 |
| Story ID: | 365091 |
| Location: | GU |
| Web Views: | 42 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Senior Leaders Showcase Cope North 2020 Partnership, by TSgt Emili Koonce, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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