KORAT ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE BASE, Thailand -- Marines and sailors from 1st Marine Aircraft Wing have dug their claws in here to participate in Exercise Cope Tiger, Jan. 29.
The service members getting down-n-dirty with the annual exercise are attached to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 122, Marine Aircraft Group 12, Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, and Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron’s 452 and 234.
During the exercise, VMFA-122 Crusaders will work alongside Singaporean, Thai, U.S. Air Force and Navy personnel, helping develop and expand interoperability.
“What we’re primarily doing is participating in a multi-lateral, large force exercise,” said Maj. John F. Carson, VMFA-122 executive officer and Atlanta, native. “We get to work with at least four different countries and 40 different airplanes at once.”
Carson explained training in Thailand is a good platform due to its location in South East Asia. Furthermore, the exercise offers VMFA-122 pilots, and the participating services, training for real-world contingencies.
“We learn how they operate and they learn how we operate,” said Carson. “I have been flying for over 10 years and have never received training like this.”
The exercise not only fosters joint air training, but the opportunity to reinforce relations through community visits to local tourist spots during liberty.
Cpl. Jamie R. Stinnett, VMFA-122 communication navigation technician and Wichita, Kansas native, said he can’t wait to take advantage of the upcoming trip to Bangkok, an opportunity that most don’t get to experience.