Mountain Home Airmen provide Osan AB with a theater support package

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Owsianka
  • 51st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea (AFNS) --  Twelve F-15 Strike Eagles from the 391st Fighter Squadron and Airmen from the 391st Aircraft Maintenance Unit out of Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, arrived here in July as part of a theater support package to help bolster the U.S. presence on the Korean peninsula.

"The show of force is the most important part of our responsibilities in this area of operations," said Master Sgt. Daniel Powers, the 391st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron support section chief. "We are also displaying our ability to move the Strike Eagles when and where we want to."

Picking up and moving halfway around the world for two months has helped the unit learn how to overcome challenges that come with the elements and working in a different environment.

"I think to have the ability to operate in a different location, you have to find constraints in the work environment and support equipment that you can work through to be able to press on without any interruptions," Powers said.

The Airmen believe that being able to move their squadron is an important part of the Air Force's mission.

"We have already achieved our standards in the short amount of time we have been here," said Senior Airman Roderick Fisher, a 391st AMU avionics specialist. "It's all about safety, security and defense. If you are not mission capable and mission ready, then you will never know whether or not you can stand up to what could happen."

Members of the 391st AMU hope to leave with a great work experience during their time here.

"This is an opportunity that not a whole lot of people will ever have," Fisher said. "Because we have quickly reached our work standards, it has allowed us to successfully complete our mission while becoming more proficient in our job."