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US, Japan, Australia forces take part in COPE North ’19 exercise
ASAN, Guam—The United States, Japan and Australia are participating in a joint military exercise called COPE North 2019 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, until March 8, 2019.
This longstanding exercise is designed to enhance multilateral air operations among the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) and Royal Australian Air Force.
More than 2,000 U.S. airmen, Marines and sailors will train alongside approximately 850 combined Koku Jieitai and RAAF service members. Additionally, nearly 100 U.S., Japanese and Australian aircraft from 21 flying units will participate in CN19.
The exercise will begin with a weeklong humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training event that will then lead to the need for a large-force employment, all of which is designed to increase readiness among the allied nations. The exercises focus on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief provides critical training to U.S. and allied forces that has a direct impact on the militaries’ ability to support the region, including Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Beginning in 1978 as a quarterly bilateral exercise held at Misawa Air Base, Japan, COPE North moved to Andersen in 1999. Today, as U.S. Pacific Air Forces’ largest multilateral exercise, the annual event demonstrates the U.S. Air Force’s commitment to peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific region by enabling regional forces to hone vital readiness skills critical to maintaining regional stability. (PR)
