Photo By Tech. Sgt. Eric Summers | Members of the Indonesian Air Force and U.S. Air Force listen to remarks during the...... read more read more
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Service members from the U.S. Air Force and Indonesian Air Forces executed exercise Cope West 24 at Abdul rachman Saleh Air Force Base, Malang, Indonesia, July 22 – 26.
Cope West 24 was a bilateral mobility exercise designed to increase interoperability and cohesion amongst the two nations’ forces. Approximately 20 members from various career fields deployed from Kadena Air Base, Japan, Yokota Air Base, Japan, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and Joint Base Pearl Harbor – Hickam, Hawaii engaged in subject matter expert exchanges about security, operations, maintenance and medical topics.
The exercise originally planned to tactically execute with two U.S. C-130J Super Hercules, but was changed due to volcanic ash in the area.
“I think it was a great success, honestly,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Lauren Casulli, 374th Operation Support Squadron and U.S. CW24 commander. Being able to flex when things don't go as planned is kind of the hallmark of a mobility force. So, this was not what we intended it to be, but each side was able to get something out of it, reprioritize what they wanted, and develop a last-minute plan to make that happen.”
Cope West exercises first began in 1989 and this year makes the 11th iteration of the training being help in Indonesia.
“This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomacy relations between the United States and Indonesia, a relationship on our shared commitments to values of democracy,” said Brig. Gen. Brian Laidlaw, director of strategy, plans, programs and requirements, Headquarters Pacific Air Forces, JBPHH. “Exercise Cope West provides a valuable opportunity for Pacific Air Forces and Indonesian Air Force to build upon this relationship and train alongside each other every year. We value the chance to enhance and expand our friendship and strategic partnership, improve interoperability, and increase our collective ability to accomplish our mission as air forces.”
The Indonesian Air Force has participated in several recent events that showed their air mobility including providing humanitarian aid to Gaza and Casulli shared that they showed that expertise and dedication during the exercise.
“I think their dedication to work and the work ethic here is unmatched. Everybody was willing to give 110% from the IDAF and it definitely lit a fire under the US PACAF forces to make sure we kept up we were ready to go. We were able to have a two-way exchange and we were able to meet them where they were and hopefully give them some of the experience that we've gathered over the years that they may still be searching for.”
“We have achieved some objective, such as wielding a solid interoperability in terms of coordination, communication and cooperation and planning. Secondly, exchanging knowledge and practical consideration and the third have been valuable experiences for all stakeholders,” said IDAF Field Marshal Firman Wirayuda, Abdul rachman Saleh Air Force Base commander.
Natural disaster prevented the exercise from being executed to its fullest potential, participants were still able build partnerships.
I think this was a phenomenal exercise. Every member of the Indonesian Air Force that we spoke to was excited and looking forward to the next event,” said Casulli. “I think we're all eager to try to get some airplanes in the sky next time and actually see what we can do in the air because we've proven that we can make it happen on the ground.”
| Date Taken: | 07.26.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 08.06.2024 15:28 |
| Story ID: | 477507 |
| Location: | ABDUL RACHMAN SALEH AIR FORCE BASE, ID |
| Web Views: | 249 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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