News>U.S., Malaysian Airmen team up to build brighter future for orphans
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U.S. Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force airmen team up to move a concrete mixer at the Pembangunan Anak-Anak Yatim Bekas Perajurit Malaysian orphanage in Kulim, Malaysia, on April 8, 2012. More than 50 U.S. and Malaysian air force members spent the day mixing and pouring concrete to create a multi-use sports court at the orphanage as part of a humanitarian construction project held during Cope Taufan 2012. Exercise Cope Taufan 12 is a Pacific Air Forces sponsored exercise involving dissimilar basic fighter maneuver and dissimilar air combat tactics training with the U.S. and Royal Malaysian Air Forces at Tudm Butterworth, Malaysia, April 4-13.(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Matt Summers)
Lt. Col. Andy Shobe (left), 67th Fighter Squadron detachment commander at Kadena Air Base, Japan, talks with Royal Malaysian Air Force Brig. Gen. Shabre Bin HJ Hussein, TUDM Butterworth commander, during a break in construction at the Pembangunan Anak-Anak Yatim Bekas Perajurit Malaysian orphanage in Kulim, Malaysia, on April 8, 2012. More than 50 U.S. Air Force and RMAF members spent the day mixing and pouring concrete to create a multi-use sports court at the orphanage as part of a humanitarian construction project held during Cope Taufan 2012. Exercise Cope Taufan 12 is a Pacific Air Forces sponsored exercise involving dissimilar basic fighter maneuver and dissimilar air combat tactics training with the U.S. and Royal Malaysian Air Forces at Tudm Butterworth, Malaysia, April 4-13.(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Matt Summers)
Senior Airman Shawn Flowers (center), 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit support flight, waits as Royal Malaysian Air Force members fill his wheelbarrow during a construction project at the Pembangunan Anak-Anak Yatim Bekas Perajurit Malaysian orphanage in Kulim April 8, 2012. More than 50 U.S. Air Force and RMAF members spent the day mixing and pouring concrete to create a multi-use sports court at the orphanage as part of a humanitarian construction project held during exercise Cope Taufan 2012. Exercise Cope Taufan 12 is a Pacific Air Forces sponsored exercise involving dissimilar basic fighter maneuver and dissimilar air combat tactics training with the U.S. and Royal Malaysian Air Forces at Tudm Butterworth, Malaysia, April 4-13.(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Matt Summers)
Tech. Sgt. Robert Colliton (left), 18th Operations Support Squadron SERE specialist from Kadena Air Base, Japan, Capt. Phil Johnson, F-15C pilot from the 67th Fighter Squadron, and Royal Malaysian Air Force Capt. Hasri Zahari, No 6 Squadron Hawk 208 pilot, spread concrete at the Pembangunan Anak-Anak Yatim Bekas Perajurit Malaysian orphanage in Kulim, Malaysia, on April 8, 2012. More than 50 U.S. Air Force and RMAF members spent the day mixing and pouring concrete to create a multi-use sports court at the orphanage as part of a humanitarian construction project held during Cope Taufan 2012. Exercise Cope Taufan 12 is a Pacific Air Forces sponsored exercise involving dissimilar basic fighter maneuver and dissimilar air combat tactics training with the U.S. and Royal Malaysian Air Forces at Tudm Butterworth, Malaysia, April 4-13. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Matt Summers)
More than 50 U.S. Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force members spent the day mixing and pouring concrete to create a multi-use sports court at the Pembangunan Anak-Anak Yatim Bekas Perajurit Malaysian orphanage in Kulim, Maylasia, on April 8, 2012, as part of a humanitarian construction project held during exercise Cope Taufan 2012. The court will be used for volleyball, badmiton and sepak jakwa, a traditional Malaysian sport. Exercise Cope Taufan 12 is a Pacific Air Forces sponsored exercise involving dissimilar basic fighter maneuver and dissimilar air combat tactics training with the U.S. and Royal Malaysian Air Forces at Tudm Butterworth, Malaysia, April 4-13.(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Matt Summers
Royal Malaysian Air Force Brig. Gen. Shabre Bin HJ Hussein, TUDM Butterworth commander, pushes a load of concrete at the Pembangunan Anak-Anak Yatim Bekas Perajurit Malaysian orphanage in Kulim, Malaysia, on April 8, 2012. More than 50 U.S. Air Force and RMAF members spent the day mixing and pouring concrete to create a multi-use sports court at the orphanage as part of a humanitarian construction project held during Cope Taufan 2012. Exercise Cope Taufan 12 is a Pacific Air Forces sponsored exercise involving dissimilar basic fighter maneuver and dissimilar air combat tactics training with the U.S. and Royal Malaysian Air Forces at Tudm Butterworth, Malaysia, 4-13 Apr 12. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Matt Summers)
Lt. Col. Andy Shobe (center), 67th Fighter Squadron detachment commander from the 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan, shovels rock into a concrete mixer as a Royal Malaysian Air Force member and chairmen of the Pembangunan Anak-Anak Yatim Bekas Perajurit Malaysian orphanage in Kulim stand ready to assist April 8, 2012. More than 50 U.S. Air Force and RMAF members spent the day mixing and pouring concrete to create a multi-use sports court at the orphanage as part of a humanitarian construction project held during Cope Taufan 2012. Exercise Cope Taufan 12 is a Pacific Air Forces sponsored exercise involving dissimilar basic fighter maneuver and dissimilar air combat tactics training with the U.S. and Royal Malaysian Air Forces at Tudm Butterworth, Malaysia, April 4-13.(U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Matt Summers)
by Master Sgt. Matt Summers
Cope Taufan 12 Public Affairs
4/11/2012 - KULIM, Malaysia -- More than 50 U.S. Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force members teamed up for a humanitarian construction project at a Malaysian orphanage here as part of exercise Cope Taufan 2012 on April 8.
The combined team spent nearly five hours mixing and pouring concrete for a multi-use sports court at Pertubuhan Pembangunan Anak-Anak Yatim Bekas Perajurit orphanage, a one-of-a-kind facility in northwestern Malaysia. Chartered by the government in 1994, the orphanage currently houses 50 children ranging in age from 10 to 17 years old. The children are orphans of former Malaysian armed forces members.
HJ Abdullah Bin Ahmad, chairman of the orphanage for the past 12 years, said this is the first time members of the armed forces have undertaken a project at the facility.
"This is a super joint-venture -- we're very grateful for this community relations event," he said. "The children are very delighted about this event as well."
The orphanage provides lodging, food, medical and educational fees for the children. Among its stated goals are to provide children a better future, help them become independent and help them achieve their dreams.
Royal Malaysian Air Force 1st Lt. Zulhusni Roslan, 310 Squadron, said he felt a responsibility to join the community relations event.
"I think it's our social responsibility to help make the orphans happy and this is our contribution," he said. "Also, it's good to work together and get to know each other better."
Senior Airman Shawn Flowers, 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit support flight from Kadena Air Base, Japan, agrees.
"It's a chance to help someone less fortunate by helping build something they can play together on," he said. "It's also a chance to experience a different culture and meet new people."
The combined team plans to visit the orphanage a final time to dedicate the court, which can be used for volleyball, badminton or sepak takraw (a traditional Malaysian game), and to provide gifts to the children. The 67th Fighter Squadron and 67th AMU will also donate a water filtration system to the orphanage.
Exercise Cope Taufan 12 is a Pacific Air Forces sponsored exercise involving dissimilar basic fighter maneuver and dissimilar air combat tactics training with the U.S. and Royal Malaysian Air Forces at Tudm Butterworth, Malaysia, April 4 through 13.
