Soldiers from the U.S., Egypt and United Arab Emirates practice fast roping from a helicopter during Exercise Bright Star 98 at the Mubarek Military City compound outside Cairo, Egypt, on Oct. 16, 1997. Bright Star 98 is a joint/combined coalition tactical air, ground, naval and special operations forces field training exercise in Egypt. Members of the U.S. Central Command's Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine and special operations components, and members of the Air and Army National Guard, and forces from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, France, Italy and the United Kingdom are taking part in the exercise. The exercise is intended to improve readiness and interoperability between U.S., Egyptian and coalition forces.