Japan forces arrive in Guam for joint exercise
Japan Air Self Defense Force members wait outside of their C-130 after arriving Jan. 27 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. More than 60 JASDF members arrived in three C-130s to participate in Exercise Cope North 09-1, a regularly scheduled exercise scheduled for Feb. 2 through 13. Cope North is designed to enhance U.S. and Japanese air operations in defense of Japan. JASDF F-2s from Tsuiki Air Base, Japan, and E-2Cs from Misawa AB, Japan, will join forward deployed U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, B-52 Stratofortress' currently deployed to Andersen AFB, and Navy EA-6B from VAQ-136 Carrier Air Wing Five, Atsugi, Japan, will participate in this year's exercise with a focus on interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald)