KORAT ROYAL THAI AIRFORCE BASE, Thailand -- Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 533, along with several other unit detachments from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, arrived here March 8 to participate in exercise Cope Tiger 2011.
Cope Tiger is a multilateral, aerial, large force exercise conducted annually in the Pacific region to improve interoperability between U.S. and Thai forces.
“The overall goal of this exercise is to enhance theatre security operations through large force employment of aviation assets between the United States, Thailand and Singapore,” said Lt. Col. George B. Rowell, VMFA(AW)-533 commanding officer.
Detachments from Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, MALS-31 and Marine Air Control Squadron 4 are supporting VMFA(AW)-533 throughout the exercise.
“We are the main Marine contingent,” said Rowell. “We are also serving as the site commander for all the Marines here; that includes our detachments from support and control groups as well.”
Along with Iwakuni assets, the 13th Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force are also working hand-in-hand with the Royal Thai Air Force throughout the exercise.
“The biggest benefit is just seeing the large amount of assets being put together to achieve a common goal in a large force exercise,” said Maj. Alvin L. Bryant, VMFA(AW)-533 operations officer.
During the Vietnam War, the Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base was the largest frontline facility for the U.S. Air Force in Thailand from 1962 to 1975.
Since the end of the Vietnam War, the U.S. and Thai forces have occupied the base for various training exercises geared toward enhancing aerial combat readiness to include exercises Cobra Gold and Cope Tiger.
“These are all strategic locations where we can potentially be operating out of,” said Sgt. Maj. Suzie M. Hollings, VMFA(AW)-533 sergeant major. “We really don’t know what could happen anywhere in the world, and we have to be prepared to operate anywhere.”
Throughout the exercise, U.S., Thai and Singapore forces will be conducting basic air-to-air and air-toground training, but the primary focus is to enhance large force employment capabilities.
“Anything over four aircraft is considered large force employment, and at some periods of the exercise, there will be up to 80 aircraft in the air at a time,” said Rowell. “You don’t get to see 80 aircraft airborne at the same time very often, and to be able to do that here is great training,” he added.
Although the primary focus of the deployment is to improve interoperability, VMFA(AW)-533 will also be working on improving the U.S./Thai relationship by reaching out to the local community.
“I anticipate that every weekend we will not only have some community relations events, but we will also have some good Marine Corps Community Services events as well, so the Marines can get out and visit some of the sites around the area,” said Rowell.
VMFA(AW)-533 is currently operating small-scale flight operations until the official start of Cope Tiger 2011 scheduled Monday.