by Krystal Paco

Guam - What started in the late 1970s as training for thousands of American and Japanese airmen at Misawa Air Base Japan has developed into a premier trilateral exercise on Andersen Air Force between three treaty allies with the addition of the Royal Australian Air Force last year.

Close to 2,000 airmen are participating in the two-week long exercise that includes humanitarian assistance and disaster relief training as well as air combat tactics, strike mission training, and large force employment training. Commander of the Pacific Air Forces General Herbert Carlisle said, "We see this as being in fiscally challenging times when some of the exercises may shrink or may just be every other year we see cope north as one of those exercises that we get the most benefit for the investment we put in it, so we'll work to continue to make this one of the premier exercises in the Pacific," he explained.

For Japan Air Self Defense Force Lietenant General Masayuki Hironaka, participating in COPE North exercises regularly is key to maintaining positive relationships with neighboring allies. "Three objectives: one is to develop our tactical capabilities. The second one is to enhance our interoperability which is among the countries, and also the third one is holster the mutual understanding between countries that is my objectives," he said.

Although COPE North isn't designed to protect from a threat posed by any particular country, Royal Australian Air Force Commodore Tony Grady says there's assurance working with U.S. forces. "From our perspective we recognize the degree of strategic uncertainty is increasing I think that nations throughout the region are looking for that increased support that working with the U.S. is likely to bring," he said.

In the event of a natural or manmade disaster or the need for large force employment, all three forces can hit the ground running. "Being able to walk into another nation's service and operate straight from day one knowing some of the key decision makers and stakeholders there is absolutely invaluable," he said.

COPE North exercises may expand in the future, as the Republic of Korea Air Force is here this year as observers and the Philippines and New Zealand may be invited in coming years.