Pacific Angel 22-2 strengthens ties with Indo-Pacific allies, partners Published Aug. 26, 2022 By Capt. Lauren Woods Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs SUBANG AIR BASE, Malaysia (AFNS) -- Exercise Pacific Angel 2022-2 wrapped up at Subang Air Base, Aug. 19, culminating nearly a week of multilateral activities that brought together 370 participants from six countries to foster cooperation and interoperability during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. From Aug. 15-19, members of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and non-governmental organizations, as well as observers from Mongolia, Indonesia and the Philippines, conducted training flights on U.S. and RMAF aircraft, enacted subject matter expert exchanges and forged friendships in the name of multilateral unity. “This exercise was a home-run for building relationships with our partners in the Pacific,” said Lt. Col. Skye Nakayama, U.S. Air Force Pacific Angel 22 exercise director. “The Royal Malaysian Air Force were wonderful hosts, and we look forward to future opportunities to learn together in settings like these.” A U.S. Air Force loadmaster assigned to the 374th Operations Support Squadron maintains communication with aircrew during a search and rescue scenario in support of exercise Pacific Angel 22-2 at Kuantan Air Base, Malaysia, Aug. 18, 2022. More than 75 Airmen from various U.S. Pacific Air Forces units conducted subject matter expert exchanges, search and rescue exercises, expeditionary medicine, and other specialty skills and training with the Royal Malaysian Air Force and multinational civilian and military participants. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessi Roth) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Pararescuemen assigned to the 38th Rescue Squadron glide toward the drop zone for over-water personnel recovery operations during exercise Pacific Angel 22-2, near Kuantan Air Base, Malaysia, Aug. 17, 2022. After the jumpers completed their objective in the water, they were extracted via hoist onto a Royal Malaysian Air Force EC725 helicopter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessi Roth) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res U.S. Air Force and Royal Malaysian Air Force medical personnel, and the RMAF 211th HANDAU Squadron participate in a mass casualty training scenario during exercise Pacific Angel 22-2 at Subang Air Base, Malaysia, Aug. 16, 2022. The training focused on effective management of multiple casualties by prioritizing patients with the most urgent needs and dividing medical resources and personnel appropriately. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessi Roth) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Pacific Angel 22 was the first bilateral air exercise to be held in Malaysia since Exercise Cope Taufan in 2018. “Friends and partners collaborating with each other, particularly when there is the impact of any disaster - that is what this exercise is all about,” said Maj. Gen. Dato’ Mahadzer bin Amin, RMAF Air Region 1 commander. “We have had incredible success working together for the past week, and we don’t want it to end here. This collaboration will continue.” The exercise began Aug. 15 with a mass in-briefing, where members of the RMAF presented all participants with a patch depicting the exercise logo. Aug. 15-18, experts from law enforcement, maintenance, medical and military bands shared knowledge with their counterparts through various events around Subang and Kuantan Air Bases. The exercise culminated Aug. 18 with an aerial freefall event, search and rescue, and simulated casualty evacuation aboard a C-130J Super Hercules from the 374th Airlift Wing. Representatives from the Royal Australian Air Force, U.S. Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Air Force display the patch for exercise Pacific Angel 22-2 at Subang Air Base, Malaysia, Aug 14, 2022. Building partnerships through multilateral engagements enhances the collective ability to confront common threats, protect shared resources and uphold sovereignty throughout the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jessi Roth) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res “On behalf of the commander of the Pacific Air Forces, I’d like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for the hard work that this team, and all participating nations, put in to make this such an important multilateral exercise in this region at such a sensitive time in world history,” said Maj. Gen. Mark Weber, Air National Guard assistant to the PACAF commander. “We recognize the common interest that we share, both as nations and as militaries, to advance security in this most vital region.” Preparations for the next iteration of Pacific Angel are already underway and expected to take place summer 2023.