Joint Bangladesh, U.S. Air Force exercise kicks off

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt Cammie Quinn
  • Cope South Public Affairs Officer
KURMITOLA AIR BASE, Bangladesh --  Airmen from the U.S. and Bangladesh Air Forces are teaming up to train together to better respond to regional disasters during exercise Cope South 2012 at Kurmitola Air Base, Bangladesh, April 22-26.

More than 65 Airmen from the Kentucky and Georgia Air National Guard, Yokota Air Base, Kadena AB and Misawa AB, Japan, along with two C-130H Hercules, will join members from the Bangladesh air force and one AN-32 aircraft.

This year's Cope South will focus on tactical airlift operations that will enhance our ability to respond to regional disasters, said Maj. Matt Quenichet, Cope South mission commander, Kentucky Air National Guard,

"Primarily, we will focus on increasing interoperability with our two teams, " the major said. "We'll exchange airdrop techniques and demonstrate low-cost, low-altitude capabilities."

The teams will also demonstrate airlift and air-land techniques, Major Quenichet added.

The teams will work side-by-side for the six-day exercise to enhance techniques to improve readiness, cultivate common bonds and foster goodwill between members of the Bangladesh and U.S. Air Force.

One Airman participating in Cope South 2012 said he expects to learn about a new culture and is excited to work with the different crews.

"I'm looking forward to showing our partners how we operate, and to see how similar or different it is to their methods," said Airman 1st Class Aaron Dossey, loadmaster, Kentucky Air National Guard from Louisville, Kentucky. "I am anxious about the language barrier, but I think we can work past it with hands-on exchanges."

Cope South participants will conduct subject-matter expert exchanges in operations, maintenance and rigging disciplines. The cooperative exercise compliments other activities designed to strengthen the close and growing partnership between the United States and Bangladesh.