The United States, Japan and Australia are participating in COPE North 2019 at Andersen Air Force Base, which began Monday and runs until Mar. 8.
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.
An Airman assigned to the 36th Mobility Response Squadron puts together a helicopter expedient refuel system, during exercise Cope NOrth 2018 at Tinian, U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Feb. 26. Exercise COPE NORTH is a long-standing exercise designed to enhance multilateral air operations between the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force. Photo by Airman 1st Class Juan Torres Chardon)
This long-standing 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
The exercise will begin with a week-long 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 exercise’s 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 AFB 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.