Osan officer helps maintain the alliance

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Tom Montgomery
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFPN) --  He speaks Chinese, Japanese and Korean with fluency and teaches northeast Asia international relations, U.S. military doctrine, English and North Korean politics to the future leaders of the South Korean air force.

Maj. Brian S. Hobbs, is a U.S. Air Force exchange professor at the Korean air force academy, near Cheongju city in central Korea.

His day-to-day contact is solely among other professors, Korean officers and cadets. Hobbs’ mission is to teach classes that will directly and indirectly increase the trust and cooperation factor between future South Korean leaders and U.S. forces in Korea.

An intelligence officer by trade, much of his formal schooling is in East Asian languages. Hobbs said loves to teach and build future leaders.

“I have the unique honor of teaching Asia to Asians,” said Hobbs, who is attached to the 607th Air Operations Squadron here.

He currently co-teaches northeast Asia international relations to senior cadets with Korean Maj. Park Bong Kyu, and teaches intermediate English to sophomore cadets besides numerous other duties.

“We believe that English is a basic skill for our officers to be able to carry out Combined Forces Command missions. Having the professor-exchange program with the U.S. helps us a lot,” said Col. Lee Bong Woon, dean of the academy.

During one northeast Asia class, Cadet Chung Hoi Hyun led a class debate on the intricacies of U.S. missile defense system ideas and the relevance of the defense to Asia. Putting aside personal feelings, cadets were assigned to support and defend various ideas about missile defense. Speaking English as a second language is difficult, but making an intelligent argument in English is a great linguistic accomplishment.

“You cadets are smarter than I was when I was in college,” said Hobbs after their debates.

While his senior students are engaged in using English as a tool while learning about international relations, the sophomore cadets are learning the conversational basics of the language.

“Our English class removes the fear of foreigners, and we can make contact with Americans and work better together,” said Cadet Kim Byung Pyo, a sophomore student of intermediate English.

A side effect of exchange programs is Korean students learn about American culture and habits.

“I learned that when an American is finished eating they are often allowed to get up and leave. In Korea, we always stay and wait for the whole group to finish,” said Cadet Kim Du Youn, whose favorite American food is Chicago-style pizza.

There are currently three Korean cadets attending the U.S. Air Force Academy. Only three cadets from any nation may attend it at any one time.

South Korea’s next choice to be a cadet at the academy, Park Jae Hyun, is receiving specific training from Hobbs to be ready for the onslaught of English, American ideas and U.S. Air Force military concepts.

“We talk about everything from English vocabulary to academy life to Air Force doctrine,” said Hobbs.

“It was an easy choice for me to go,” said Park. “This is the best chance I have to improve my ability. It’s the best environment to challenge my mind and body.”

During the four years at the academy, he will undergo the same training as the American cadets, wear the same uniform, take the same classes and play on the same teams.

“I’m excited, but above all, I look forward to learning,” he said.

There have been 12 Korean graduates of the U.S. Air Force Academy.