Exercise Cope North 2016

Exercise Cope North 16 participants pose for a group photo, Feb. 10, 2016, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Cope North 16 includes nearly 3,000 personnel from six countries and continues the growth of strong, interoperable, and beneficial relationships within the Indo-Asia-Pacific region through integration of airborne and land-based command and control assets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew B. Fredericks/Released)

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii --  Story by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs

            

The U.S. and five ally and partner nations in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region are scheduled to participate in exercise Cope North 2016 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 10 through 26.

 

 

Exercise CN16 is a long-standing exercise designed to enhance multilateral air operations between the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force. As part of CN16, additional participants from the Philippines Air Force, Republic of Korea Air Force and Royal New Zealand Air Force will participate in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training.

 

 

More than 930 U.S. Airmen and Sailors will train alongside approximately 490 JASDF, 375 RAAF, 5 PAF, 20 ROKAF and 35 RNZAF service members. Additionally, more than 100 aircraft, comprised of 23 flying units from the U.S. and Indo-Asia-Pacific region, will participate in CN16. 

 

 

The exercise will begin with a two-day table-top Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief exercise to enhance command and control prior to the week-long HA/DR training. This will be the first time a table-top HA/DR exercise has been completed prior to executing the training. During the second part of the exercise, the focus will shift to large-force employment training, fighter-versus-fighter air combat tactics training, and air-to-ground strike mission training over the Farallon de Medinilla range 160 nautical miles north of Guam.  The U.S. Air Force's 353rd Combat Training Squadron from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, will participate in the exercise and conduct multilateral survival training for the first time this year.

 

 

Additionally during CN16, Andersen AFB will open its doors to the general public to attend an open house featuring static displays and flyovers.

 

 

Beginning in 1978 as a quarterly bilateral exercise held at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Cope North was moved to Andersen AFB in 1999. Today, the annual exercise serves as a keystone event to promote stability and security throughout the Indo-Asia-Pacific region by enabling regional forces to hone vital readiness skills critical to maintaining regional stability.

 

U.S. Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force aircraft, fly in formation during a photo exercise at Cope North 15, Feb. 17, 2015, off the coast of Guam. Through training exercises such as Exercise Cope North 15, the U.S., Japan and Australia air forces develop combat capabilities, enhancing air superiority, electronic warfare, air interdiction, tactical airlift and aerial refueling. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jason Robertson/Released)

 

 

Cope North 2012 combines forces, efforts

by Senior Airman Veronica McMahon, 36th Wing Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFNS) -- Joint operations kicked off between the U.S. Air Force, the Japan Air Self Defense Force and the Royal Australian Air Force as the first day of exercise Cope North 2012 began here Feb. 13.

Whether it was the JASDF's F-2s flying alongside the RAAF's F-18s, or RAAF troops joining 36th Contingency Response Group Airmen in building a tent city, the three services worked together to ensure a successful start to the next two weeks.

Throughout the exercise, participating forces will demonstrate their ability to effectively deploy and train together. Participants will also have the opportunity to improve their ability to employ both tactical air power in the skies, and humanitarian and disaster relief efforts on the ground.

During the aerial portion, F-2s, F-15s, F-16s, F-18s and B-52s were among the first aircraft to take to the skies during morning operations on day one of training.

While sorties multiplied in the skies, troops on the ground began training for humanitarian and disaster relief efforts at Andersen's Northwest Field. The RAAF worked with Andersen Airmen to conduct a heavy equipment drop and also combined forces to set up a tent city, where they will spend five days simulating possible conditions during real-world relief efforts.

The day's events culminated in a field training exercise. The field training portion focused on coordination and evaluation between RAAF and U.S. Air Force personnel. Throughout the simulation, different roles are played out, such as security, emergency response, medical and evaluation.

"The reason why we are here is because we all need each other," said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Joseph Mull, the 36th CRG deputy commander. "The camaraderie we have developed with the Australians is awesome."

The exercise has also provided an opportunity to cultivate common bonds and foster goodwill between the multinational partners.

"We are part of the group providing security for the Cope North exercise with our Australian counterparts," said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Clint Seal, of the 736th Security Forces Squadron. "It's pretty neat to work with a foreign military. Because we work in the same theater, we might cross each other's path again."

The U.S. military is always seeking opportunities to strengthen its relationship with other nations through activities such as subject matter expert exchanges, host nation visits, trilateral engagements, exercises and operations such as those experienced during Cope North, officials said.

"It's good to work together and see what each nation brings to the actual mission, especially in this area where humanitarian assistance and disaster relief is very important," said RAAF Wing Commander Lee de Winton, the 381st Expeditionary Combat Support Squadron commanding officer.

"It's been great to meet our sister squadron," de Winton continued. "All of this is built on relationships that will endure throughout what we do in this region."

Cope North kicks off at Andersen AB

by Airman 1st Class Whitney Tucker, 36th Wing Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFNS) -- More than 1,000 military members from units spanning the Pacific are ready to kick off exercise Cope North 2012, which runs from Feb. 11 through 24.

The trilateral, multinational exercise is designed to enhance air operations between the U.S. Air Force, the Japan Air Self Defense Force and the Royal Australian Air Force.

"The relationships built and sustained with our multinational partners in the Asia-Pacific region through exercises, civil-military operations and military exchanges help tremendously in preserving peace and stability in the region, including humanitarian efforts and disaster response," said Maj. John Greven, assigned to the 13th Air Force's Detachment 1 at Yokota Air Base, Japan.

During Cope North, participating forces will demonstrate the ability to effectively deploy forces and train together to improve aircrew abilities to employ tactical air power as a multinational force, exercise officials said. Andersen AFB has hosted Cope North for 10 years as a bilateral training event between the JASDF and U.S. Air Force. This year's exercise marks the first time the RAAF will participate, further demonstrating the regional allies' resolve to promote security and cooperation in this area of responsibility.

The field training exercise focuses on coordination and evaluation of air tactics, techniques and procedures between the three nations.

"Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises, dissimilar air combat training, and strike mission training will be conducted during the first week of the exercise," said Maj Greven, the lead planner for this year's Cope North. "Large force employment training will be the focus of the second week. Additionally, JASDF and USAF will conduct live surface attack tactics training on the Farrallon de Medinilla range in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands."

For only the fourth time in Cope North history, dedicated opposing forces will be integrated in the exercise for training purposes.

"The aggressor aircraft will primarily be played by F-16 Fighting Falcons out of the 18th Aggressor Squadron from Eielson AFB, Alaska," Greven said. "The B-52 Stratofortresses out of the 23rd Bomb Squadron from Minot AFB will be one of the units that will participate as both blue air, or friendly forces, as well as being tasked to simulate opposing forces during some days of the exercise. "

The U.S. military is always seeking opportunities to strengthen its relationship with other partner nations through activities such as subject-matter expert exchanges, host-nation visits, bilateral engagements, and multinational exercises and operations, such as those experienced at Cope North, officials said.

"As I experienced firsthand during Operation Tomodachi, there is tremendous value added in working and exercising side-by-side with our allies," Greven said. "When real-world events occur, these training events improve our capability to operate in a multinational environment and respond effectively and efficiently. We also send an unequivocal message that our nations are committed to continued peace and stability in the Pacific theater."

VAQ 136 Prowls at Cope North

Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Stacy Brown, assigned to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136, conducts maintenance on an EA-6B Prowler. VAQ-136 is participating in Cope North, a two-week annual bilateral exercise between U.S. forces and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. VAQ-136 is homeported at Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Corwin Colbert/Released)

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Corwin Colbert, Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs

SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136 from Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan, participated in Exercise Cope North 10-1 Feb. 7-19 at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam.

Cope North is a bilateral field exercise between the U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).

VAQ 136 had three EA-6B Prowlers used during the exercise to simulate combat missions against the U.S. Air Force and JASDF.

"This is a good opportunity for all sides to learn how each side operates," said Lt. Dick Rosenbusch, a VAQ 136 naval flight officer.

According to Rosenbusch, the Prowler's primary mission is to support strike aircraft and ground troops by interrupting enemy electronic activity and obtaining tactical electronic intelligence within a combat area.

"Think electronic warfare," Rosenbusch said. "The Prowler is not your typical fighter. It is not a strike fighter, which has both air-to-air and air-to-ground strike capabilities. They do have, however, air-to-ground capabilities but that is not the primary mission. The primary mission is to jam enemy radars allowing our strikers to get within range of a target without being shot down."

VAQ 136's maintenance crew spent countless hours making sure the aircraft were safe and operational.

"We start working at 5 in the morning, performing inspections and general service requirements," said Chief Aviation Maintenance (AW) Toby Spanos, with VAQ 136. "Each inspection could be as long as three hours per plane during pre-flight and post-flight. It's an old bird, so the maintenance can be pretty labor intensive."

Cope North provides a venue for cooperation between U.S. and Japanese forces and to improve capabilities for the defense of Japan. The primary focus is readiness and coordination and evaluation of air tactics, techniques and procedures between U.S. forces and the JASDF.