BANGLADESHI, U.S. AIRMEN TEAM UP FOR COPE SOUTH 14

DHAKA, Nov. 11  (U.S. Embassy Press Release)  The U.S. and Bangladesh Air Forces will train side-by-side to better respond to regional disasters during exercise “Cope South 14” at Bangladesh Air Force Base Bangabandhu, Bangladesh, November 9 – 13, 2013.

This is the third year that United States and Bangladesh have trained together for Cope South and this year, at the invitation of the Government of Bangladesh, more than 80 U.S. Airmen, along with three U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules aircraft, will join Bangladeshi Airmen and one BAF C-130 aircraft.

“Our Airmen are very eager for the opportunity to work alongside our Bangladeshi counterparts,” said Lt. Col. Jeff Menasco, 36th Airlift Squadron commander. “Through cooperative exercises like Cope South, we can strengthen 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 we can learn from one another,” Menasco said. “We appreciate the Bangladesh Air Force’s willingness to share their best practices and lessons learned from their extensive experience in peace-keeping operations.”