4th EFS TSP bolstered Wolf Pack mission

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tong Duong
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR FORCE BASE, Republic of Korea --  More than 240 active-duty and Reserve Airmen deployed from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, spent six month training on the Korean peninsula with the Wolf Pack in April.

According to Col. John Pearse, (then) 8th Fighter Wing commander, the 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron have spent more than six months integrated into Wolf Pack operations, flying more than 1,800 hours and 1,000 sorties, which helped increase the wing's ability to 'defend the base.'

"The 4th EFS Theater Security Package demonstrated the Wolf Pack's ability to 'accept follow-on forces' and through numerous exercises and daily operations proved that together, we could efficiently 'take the fight north' if called upon to do so," he said.

The 4th EFS bolstered the Wolf Pack's mission by providing 12 F-16 Fighting Falcons, 18 fighter pilots, and 230 aircraft maintainers and support personnel.

"This TSP is very important," said 1st Lt. Dominic Masters, 4th EFS, Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit, assistant officer in charge. "It's a small piece of the big picture and you need all those smaller pieces to create that bigger picture, which is the security of the people of the US and Republic of Korea."

Despite combating the hardship of being away from loved ones or the weather extremes of South Korea's freezing winter and humid summer, the Airmen from Hill strived to do their best, Masters said.

"I love working with our 'Fighting Fuujins,' it is the best part of being here," She said. "This unit have reached the highest mission capable rate in the last five years. They have beaten 10 of the 12 highest rated maintenance metrics in the last three years."

Whether on or off duty, Airmen of the 4th EFS continued to amaze their leadership with the things they do each day.

"We've had a number of our members who volunteered on the weekends at the local orphanage, some helped out with the Airmen assisting Airmen (A-Cube) program," Masters said. "Others helped raise funds for different fundraisers and charities."

Working alongside Kunsan's 35th and 80th FS and the Republic of Korea air forces 38th Fighter Group, the 4th EFS have helped increased the capability of the 8th FW as well as stability on the Korean peninsula.

"The 'Fighting Fuujins' were able to fully integrate into 8th FW operations -- whether from an intelligence, maintenance or flying perspective," Pearse said. "They provided unrivaled support to exercises like Max Thunder, our large-force employment 'Elephant Walk,' joint events such as Exercise Foal Eagle and routine readiness exercises over the course of their time here."