Cope Angle 2009-1 (JASDF-USAF Joint Air Rescue Exercise) was carried out for improving each rescue capabilities from 9th to 13rd Feburary 2009 at Naha AB, Kadena AB and Ukihara Range in Okinawa.　Exercise Control Officers were Lt.Col. Shigeyuki Tachikawa (commander, Naha Air Rescue SQ., JASDF), Maj.Jason Pifer (commander, 31st Rescue SQ., USAF) and Lt.Col.John Trumpfheller (commander, 33rd Rescue SQ., USAF).
　　150 JASDF members from Naha Rescue SQ. and Naha Helicopter Airlift SQ. and 150 USAF airmen from 31th and 33rd Rescue Squadron stationing at Kadena AB., totally 300 airmen participated in this exercise.　During this exercise, JASDF operated U-125A, UH-60J and CH-47J, and USAF did HH-60G and C-130.
　　Exercise was proceeded under scenario of aircraft crash in peace time, and under scenario of Tsunami attack.　We trained our units about rescuing aircrews in daytime and night, and we disciplined them about searching and rescuing mass injured　peoples.　Remarkable issue is that we actually arranged 35 airmen as victims on land and sea in scenario of mass injured peoples rescue, and then medics of JASDF Rescue Wing and para-resucuemen picked up injured peoples to their helicopters after rapid Triage action (sorting treatment priority).　Rescue men who had taken paramedic qualification past several years, could improve their skill through this exercise and deepen mutual understanding each others, JASDF and USAF.
　　Maj.Gen.Hiroyuki Takiwaki (commander of Air Rescue Wing) who inspected this exercise, pointed "we could study USAF-JASDF communication method, technical term, and difference of each equipment, and this kind of exercise is very significant for improving rescue capability and mutual cooperation".　Cope Angel '09-1 is 25th.
(Article and slide-show are provided by Naha Rescue SQ.)

　　Note : Click linked portion for slide-show about Cope Angel '09-1