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Exercise Cope North takes Guam by storm

PACAF News

Release Date: 11/13/2003

By 1st Lt. Michael Cumberworth Fifth Air Force Public Affairs

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam -- Team Andersen welcomed over 650 U.S. airmen, sailors, Marines and nearly 250 Japan Air Self-Defense Force members as Exercise Cope North 04-1 began here Monday. The exercise runs until Nov. 21.

"There is a lot of potential for growth on this base, in part because of regular training exercises like Cope North," said Col. P.K. White, 36th Air Base Wing Vice Commander. "Andersen is ideal for a host of Air Force missions, whether it's responding to a humanitarian crisis or supporting a major training exercise such as Cope North."

U.S. personnel from Yokota Air Base, Japan; Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan; and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, began arriving along with the JASDF Nov. 5 to establish air operations in a deployed environment. Cope North is a regularly scheduled bilateral exercise between the United States and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and is designed to enhance the execution of air operations in the defense of Japan. This year marks the fifth time the exercise will be held at Guam, but the first for the JASDF 83rd Wing from Okinawa, Japan.

"This is the first time for JASDF F-4s, which we call Super Phantoms, to take part in an overseas exercise," said Col. Mitsuhiro Kohno, JASDF Cope North 04-1 exercise director and Vice Commander of the 83rd Wing at Naha AB, Okinawa. "This is both a good opportunity for training in areas that are somewhat limited on Okinawa, and also a good opportunity to train with the most powerful air force in the world, the United States."

Cope North participants agree that Guam offers several advantages to host this type of flying exercise, the most notable of which is the expansive airspace. Similar training opportunities are limited in mainland Japan and Okinawa, because the airspace is much more confined.

"This is a very historic event for us and for the JASDF," said Col. Bob Harvey, exercise director for U.S. forces during Cope North and 605th Air Operations Group commander, Headquarters Fifth Air Force at Yokota AB. "I'm very grateful we have such a great relationship with our friends in the JASDF.

"I hope we learn a lot from each other," he added. "I would consider this a successful exercise if we can learn a lot from each other and go home safely." (Courtesy of Pacific Air Forces News Service)