Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Ryan Okahara, the Hawaii Air National Guard commander and Indonesia Air Force Air First Marshal Widyargo Ikoputra, the Iswahjudi Air Force Base commander, receives a brief from F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots from both nations prior to the Cope West 19 closing ceremony at Sam Ratulangi International Airport, Manado, Indonesia, June 28. Over the course of the two-week exercise, the two services flew a combined total of 130 sorties, affording both countries the opportunity to exchange knowledge and tactical consideration in modern air combat warfare during close air support training and air-to-air fighter training. Simultaneously, eight subject-matter expert exchanges occurred across various career fields. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Melanie Hutto)190628-F-MA978-1085
                        
                        
                        U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Ryan Okahara, the Hawaii Air National Guard commander and Indonesia Air Force Air First Marshal Widyargo Ikoputra, the Iswahjudi Air Force Base commander, receives a brief from F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots from both nations prior to the Cope West ‘19 closing ceremony at Sam Ratulangi International Airport, Manado, Indonesia, June 28, 2019. Over the course of the two-week exercise, the two services flew a combined total of 130 sorties, affording both countries the opportunity to exchange knowledge and tactical consideration in modern air combat warfare during close air support training and air-to-air fighter training. Simultaneously, eight subject-matter expert exchanges occurred across various career fields. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Melanie Hutto)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

U.S., Indonesian air forces wrap up Cope West ‘19Published July 6, 2019
                    
                    By Air Force Staff Sgt. Melanie Hutto
                    
                    
                    Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
            **MANADO, Indonesia (AFNS) --**The seventh iteration of Cope West, a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored, bilateral tactical fighter aircraft exercise involving U.S. and Indonesian air forces, concluded with a closing ceremony at Sam Ratulangi International Airport, Manado, Indonesia, June 28.
Cope West is designed to advance interoperability and build upon already-established partnerships between U.S. military forces and Indonesian air forces, with the end goal of enhancing both sides’ combat capabilities and unit readiness.
Brig. Gen. Ryan Okahara, Hawaii Air National Guard commander, and Air First Marshal Widyargo Ikoputra, Iswahjudi Air Force Base commander, attended the ceremony to recognize the Cope West ‘19 participants’ accomplishments.
Both commanders began their closing remarks thanking the service members for the hard work they put into preparing and executing another successful iteration of Cope West.
“This joint exercise achieved key objectives,” said Ikoputra. “Together, we built interoperability in terms of coordination, communication and cooperation in planning and conducting joint air operations.”
Over the course of the two-week exercise, the two services flew a combined total of 130 sorties, affording both countries the opportunity to exchange knowledge and tactical consideration in modern air combat warfare during close air support training and air-to-air fighter training. Simultaneously, eight subject-matter expert exchanges occurred across various career fields.
Approximately 110 U.S. service members from the 14th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, Misawa Air Base, Japan, and 150 Indonesian service members, worked side-by-side to improve mutual understanding and build the U.S.-Indonesian partnership.
“The ties that bind us during Cope West are important to enhancing security cooperation and to advancing the strategic partnership between Indonesia and the United States,” said Okahara. “No single nation can ensure security and stability alone, and this exercise serves as an example to the region of how partners can cooperate toward a common objective.”
Okahara spoke about the multiple engagements over the past several months between the United States and Indonesia.
“Our frequent engagements are proof that we have a strong air force-to-air force relationship, and this is something to be celebrated during the 70th year of diplomatic relations between the United States and Indonesia,” said Okahara. “We look forward to working with the Indonesian air force to increase the complexity of Cope West next year to take advantage of the F-16 upgrades and enhancements that Indonesia will receive.”
Okahara and Ikoputra echoed one another, expressing the most valuable takeaway from the exercise was a stronger relationship between the two nations.
Following the closing ceremony, Maj. Brian Morrissey, 14th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron commander, expressed how proud he was of his Airmen for accomplishing their day-to-day mission and stepping outside of their designated career fields to lend a helping hand wherever needed.
“This is by far the most successful exercise I have been a part of,” Morrissey expressed. “Every single Airmen demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and dedication vital to the mission. The relationships we built here will carry on into the future.”Pacific Air Forces 



PACAF 



Joint Training 



joint exercise 



Indonesia 



security cooperation 



bilateral training 



partnerships 



strengthening alliances 



Cope West 19 



TNI-AU 



air-to-air training 



F/S. Cope West Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander emphasizes five focus areas during AFA Warfare Symposium
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil