517th AS returns from Cope Tiger: Valuable training obtained

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Airmen from the 517th Airlift Squadron returned to Elmendorf March 13, after spending nearly 15 days at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Force bases, Thailand.

The 517th AS volunteered one of its C-17 Globemaster IIIs to participate in the exercise, along with 39 Airmen, which included members from the 3rd Security Forces Squadron, 3rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, 517th Aircraft Maintenance Unit and the 517th AS.

Lt. Col. Andy Hird, 517th AS commander, had high praise for his team, which launched 38 of their 38 mission requirements and delivered approximately 120,000 pounds of training platforms during nine days of flying.

Colonel Hird also mentioned that this was the first time all four Pacific Air Forces C-17 units fell under one commander, Lt. Col. Gregory Woodrow the 204th AS commander, during an exercise.

C-17 units from Elmendorf's 517th AS and the 176th Alaska Air National Guard teamed up with Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam's 15th Airlift Wing and 204th AS, Hawaii Air National Guard.

The Airmen participated in what was a multi-lateral exercise with their Pacific coalition partners, Thailand and Singapore.

This was the standard for the way training should be done, said colonel Hird.

Overcoming challenges like the language barrier between the two forces was a huge learning experience for the Airmen, said Colonel Hird. This was realistic and a good practice for them, being that Thailand and Singapore are some of the U.S. Air Force's major coalition partners.

"This was a step to ensure we can inner operate and engage with our Pacific partners," said Colonel Hird. "When they go into a war or coalition environment they need to go in with the attitude of solving problems together because we don't own the runway or the air space."

Master Sgt. Daniel Fuentes, 3rd SFS NCO in charge of standardization evaluation, participated in Cope Tiger for the first time, and he said it was good to see how the Thani Royal Thai Air Force provided and secured the assets the U.S. had there.

"(This kind of exercise) strengthens the (bond) between the U.S., Thailand and Singapore air forces," said Sergeant Fuentes. "(It's great) to be able to conduct effective operations, not only in the air but on the ground as well."

After a second consecutive Cope Tiger appearance from the 517th AS, Colonel Hird said that that he hopes his participating Airmen took away some valuable tactical training along with how to positively interact with their coalition partners.