A Royal Thai Air Force F-5E from Surat Air Base, Thailand,launches for air combat exercises during COPE TIGER 02.

USAF MSgt. David Besterci, a Japan-based Survival, Evasion. Resistance and Escape (SERE) instructor, trains a U.S. Marine EA-6B Electronic Counter Measure Officer, 1st Lt. Emmett Collazo, SERE techniques during COPE TIGER 02 in Thailand.

COPE TIGER 2002 achieved a 96 percent cumulative sortie rate. Of the planned sorties, Royal Thai Air Force units completed 408 of 418, the Republic of Singapore Air Forces 385 of 415 and U.S. forces 367 of 376. No major accidents or safety incidents occurred, and strong partnerships were again forged this year. Hearing and seeing COPE TIGER aircraft soar over the region was a reminder to the citizens of Korat of the periodic spike in activity at their province’s air base. The stimulus visiting forces gave to Korat’s economy was welcomed, and citizens know well that things will pick up again when Exercise COBRA GOLD starts in May 2002.

Community relations projects were an important part of exercise activities. These projects included donating food, cooking supplies, toys, computers, blankets and sporting equipment brought from Singapore or the U.S., or purchased locally with money donated by exercise participants and an officers’ spouse organization. The projects also included visiting two schools and the Rajasima Boys Home for abandoned children from 7 to 18 years of age. Homeless, abused and at-risk youth make up the majority of residents.

The visit by Thai, Singapore and U.S. forces to the Rajasima Boys Home in central Korat served as a symbol of the successes that result from strong partnerships among participating forces. The boys home hosted a luncheon filled with song and Thai delicacies.