Bangladeshi, U.S. Airmen Team up for Exercise Cope South 14

  • Published
  • By Capt Raymond Geoffroy
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
BANGABANDHU AIR BASE, Bangladesh --  U.S. and Bangladeshi Airmen are training side-by-side during exercise Cope South 14 at Bangabandhu Air Base, Bangladesh, Nov. 9 through 13, 2013.

This year's exercise will focus on conducting tactical airlift operations in order to better respond to regional disasters. More than 80 U.S. Airmen, along with three U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules aircraft, will join Bangladeshi Airmen and one Bangladesh Air Force C-130 aircraft.

"Our Airmen are very excited for the opportunity to work alongside out Bangladeshi counterparts," Said Lt. Col. Jeff Menasco, 36th Airlift Squadron commander. "Through cooperative exercises like Cope South, we can strengthen our bonds with our partners and improve our combined readiness to provide airlift in times of crisis.

During the exercise, Airmen will exchange airlift, air-land, and airdrop delivery tactics, techniques, and procedures, during a series of combined missions. The Airmen will also develop and expand combined airlift capabilities through subject-matter expert exchanges in the operations, maintenance, and rigging disciplines.

"As members of the C-130 community, we have so much to learn from one another," Menasco said. "We appreciate the Bangladeshi Air Force's willingness to share their best practices and lessons learned from their extensive experience in global peace-keeping operations."

Cope South is taking place at the invitation of the Government of Bangladesh and complements a number of cooperative activities designed to strengthen the close and growing partnership between the United States and Bangladesh.