Kunsan Airmen train with South Korean fighter pilots

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Roy Lynch
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) --  Kunsan Air Base officials hosted an exercise with South Korean airmen March 15 through 17 here to operate effectively together for possible joint combat actions.

South Korean air force F-16s from the 21st Fighting Squadron out of Seosan Air Base and F-15E Strike Eagles from the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron played part in several realistic aerial exercises to become familiar with each other's tactics and procedures.

"(Exercise) Buddy Wing is a way for us to gain experience flying with the host nation pilots," said Capt. Patrick Hickie, a 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilot. "This enables us to integrate seamlessly and be effective as possible. This is the bread and butter of what we do. We need to understand how to operate and employ together efficiently, this exercise gives us the chance to do that."

The exercise is held several times throughout the year to help ensure all incoming pilots are able to participate sometime throughout their tour and so the U.S. and South Korean air forces can operate smoothly together to complete their missions.

"ROKAF mainly use English terms on the radio in accordance with communication procedures," said South Korean air force Capt. Sung Jin Jeon, assigned to the 21st Fighter Squadron. "We primarily share jargon, codeword, brevity, and so forth, so we don't see any problem with communication between ROKAF and USAF pilots."

If something verbally does go wrong, the mission is halted for safety.

"Just in case we do misunderstand each other due to the language barrier, we would first consider safety factors and suspend a mission," Captain Jeon said. "We conduct an exercise with our safety secured."

Through this training, South Korean air force pilots are able to return to their squadrons and pass on the lessons learned through the exercise to their South Korean air force counterparts.

"Buddy Wing gives us such an opportunity to experience and practice an air combat," Captain Jeon said. "We can share our experience with other ROKAF who haven't done this exercise. A select group of pilots can get the training and disseminate what they experience and learn."

Through any contingency, American Airmen and South Korean air force pilots will work together to stop any threat. Exercise Buddy Wing allows these pilots the opportunity to work together before the contingency ever happens.