Cope North 25 send-off

Published Feb. 3, 2025
By Airman 1st Class Koby Mitchell
35th Fighter Wing

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) --

As Cope North 25 approaches, members of the 35th Logistics Readiness Squadron and Traffic Management Office are ensuring the seamless shipment of essential cargo to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The annual multinational exercise strengthens ties between the U.S., Australia and Japan, enhancing interoperability and regional security in the Indo-Pacific.

"Right now, the squadrons are getting ready to ship their cargo off to go and support the mission for Cope North over in Guam," said Senior Airman Rhett Hammon, 35th LRS inbound cargo technician. "What we’re doing here is ensuring that everything that is being shipped is strapped, packaged and weighed properly, and we’re working with the loadmasters to get them ready to go."

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph Reumont, left, 372 Training Squadron Detachment 23 field training instructor, and Airman 1st Class Madison Mathis, 13th Fighter Generation Squadron aerospace ground equipment journeyman, inspect equipment during cargo preparation in support of Cope North 25 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 24, 2025. Conducting thorough inspections ensures all assets arrive mission-ready, enabling seamless integration with allied forces during Cope North 25. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Koby Mitchell)

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tyler Ballard, 13th Fighter Generation Squadron aerospace ground equipment journeyman, unfurls cargo straps while preparing equipment for shipment in support of Cope North 25 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 24, 2025. This hands-on experience helps Airmen refine their logistical skills, ensuring they can rapidly deploy equipment to support exercises such as Cope North 25. This enhances interoperability between the U.S., Japan, and Australia while strengthening collective airpower and regional security in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Koby Mitchell)

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 36th Airlift Squadron anchor a Bobtail Tractor in a C-130J Super Hercules in preparation of COPE NORTH 25 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 29, 2025. Properly securing heavy equipment ensures the safe transport of mission-essential assets to support multinational operations in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Koby Mitchell)

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Joseph Reumont, 372 Training Squadron Detachment 23 field training instructor, inspects equipment during cargo preparation in support of Cope North 25 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Jan. 24, 2025. Attention to detail during equipment checks ensures U.S. forces can operate effectively alongside partner nations in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Koby Mitchell)

Cope North 25 serves as a platform for combined air tactics, techniques and procedures, ensuring participating nations can operate effectively in real-world scenarios. To facilitate this, LRS and TMO personnel are responsible for coordinating logistics, verifying load safety and processing necessary documentation.

“Our responsibility here is to train the base on how to prepare their cargo and get all the paperwork together in order to ship it out when the time comes, be it exercise or deployment,” said Staff Sgt. Shanks, 35th LRS air transportation technician.

Much of the cargo consists of maintenance tools and equipment crucial to the 13th Fighter Generation Squadron’s ability to sustain operations during the exercise.

"Without sending this cargo there, they would not even be able to participate, or it would severely limit their capabilities to meet their objectives in the exercise," Shanks said.

Beyond logistical coordination, Cope North 25 also provides a valuable experience for participating Airmen.

“This will actually be my first time going to Cope North, but I’m excited to go and support everyone up there and learn new things outside of my comfort zone,” Hammon said.

As preparations continue, Misawa Air Base remains committed to ensuring mission success, strengthening alliances, and contributing to a free and open Indo-Pacific.