As members of the U.S. security cooperation enterprise, air advisors are trained to support combatant commanders’ efforts by building partnerships and assisting allied nations in enhancing their airpower capabilities.
A total of 33 air advisors from Travis Air Force Base, California; Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; and the Puerto Rico Air National Guard embedded with PAF units to exchange subject matter expertise and refine mutual capabilities, supporting combat readiness and joint mission planning.
“These crucial efforts significantly enhance the capabilities, interoperability and integration of our allies and partners with U.S. forces,” said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Jeromy Yabut, 36th Tactical Advisor Squadron logistics flight commander. “These SMEEs have been meticulously planned out before the exercise conference and were derived from PAF requests.”
Air advisors from Pacific Air Forces and Air Mobility Command coordinated with PAF counterparts to conduct exchanges at Clark, Basa, Colonel Jesus Villamor, Colonel Ernesto Rabina and Mactan Air Bases. Over the two-week exercise, the exchanges focused on air-to-ground strike operations, airdrop tactics, aircraft and munitions maintenance, fueling procedures, supply practices, airfield operations and Agile Combat Employment. Each exchange allowed members to observe one another’s tactics and techniques and share best practices to improve efficiency.
These exchanges demonstrated both nations’ commitment to defense cooperation and regional deterrence. In addition to supporting operational integration, the engagements offered Airmen at all levels the opportunity to gain new perspectives and strengthen partnerships.
“This exercise afforded our air advisor team a chance to further deepen relationships with our counterparts in the Philippines Air Force and provided us with a deeper understanding of the security challenges faced by our nation’s oldest ally in the Pacific,” said U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Hocking, 36th Tactical Advisory Squadron Director of Operations. “It underscores the importance of our train, advise, assist mission, and allows us to prioritize the content of future engagements to maximize effects. We have many future opportunities for continued security cooperation, and Cope Thunder has served to strengthen our resolve and commitment to work on these challenges together, hand in hand with the Philippines Air Force.”
The role of U.S. air advisors in Cope Thunder highlights a deepening level of strategic cooperation, ranging from advisor embeds and high-end fighter integration to comprehensive air-ground mission planning. The exercise reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen the longstanding U.S.-Philippines alliance and enhance interoperability in support of mutual defense and a free and open Indo-Pacific.
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