Bangladesh Concludes Military Exercise with United States

Airmen and two C-130 Hercules aircraft traveled to the Asian nation to train with the Bangladesh air force to better respond to regional disasters. The exercise - which took place at Kurmitola Air Base - focused on tactical airlift operations with the Bangladesh AN-32 aircraft. Building up the relationship between the two countries was the theme of Cope South 10. Much of that relationship building happened during exchanges between subject-matter experts in operations, maintenance, navigation and rigging disciplines. "Their planes are older so we learned some things about the B-model C-130 while we told them about our H-model C-130," said Tech. Sgt. Doug Harper, of the 374th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "They're very knowledgeable about the aircraft.

They're trying to figure out from us how to improve their aircraft. They're very well rounded. Our work is split up into different specialties in the Air Force. They have far less groups so their maintainers do a lot more." One of the exercise's objectives was to introduce Bangladesh navigators and pilots to flying missions using night-vision goggles. "The squadron commander approached me after the briefing and told me how great he thought this would cement the basics for his aircrew," said 1st Lt. Robert Carranza, a C-130 navigator with the 36th Airlift Squadron.

source:the daily star