Approximately 500 airmen and 21 combat aircraft are scheduled to participate in Cope Tiger 2010 that kicks off March 1 at Korat and Udon Thani Royal Thai Air Force Bases. This iteration of the annual multilateral air exercise runs through March 12. The Air Force plans to send A-10, C-17, C-130, E-3 AWACS, and F-15 aircraft. Joining the US presence will be roughly 1,100 members of the Royal Thai Air Force and Army, and the Republic of Singapore Air Force with their aircraft and air defense units. Like all Cope Tiger exercises, this meeting will include humanitarian and civic assistance activities. (JB Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii report)
The Air Force achieved its goal of recruiting 32,750 Active-Duty enlisted Airmen for 2026 five months ahead of schedule, military officials said this week—its biggest recruiting year in more than two decades.