Joint exercise accomplishes historical achievements

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Sean P. Houlihan
  • 8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
KUNSAN AIR BASE, South Korea --  For the past week Airmen have been participating in an operational readiness exercise alongside Republic of Korea Airmen and Soldiers, testing the combined mission of the two allies stationed here. 

Even though the ORE is a regular event this exercise made history with two separate events.

The first historical event included USAF and ROKAF pilots and intelligence officers conducting mission planning and flying operations together. The second was a mass causality exercise simulating ROKAF and USAF Airmen injured in a mortar attack resulting in 8th Medical Group Airmen provided medical attention to the wounded alongside ROKAF medical technicians.

Joint mission planning for the exercise began Jan. 4 with an academic lesson with Airmen from both the wing and the ROKAF's 38th Fighter Group. The group came together again Jan. 12 to complete mission planning for the entire week to include assigning targets per the air tasking order, flight call signs, mission numbers, a weapons load list for each sortie and to ensure safety of flight with multiple F-16s flying in the same training airspace.

"The key to joint flying operations begins with mission planning," Colonel Kenneth Rizer, 8th Operations Group commander said. "Whenever we fly we must ensure we are able to employ safely and complete the mission as prescribed in the air tasking order or the training objective."

Colonel Rizer said even though Wolf Pack and 38th pilots train together on a regular basis flying during an ORE only strengthens the working relationship.

"The more often we are able to train together on real world scenarios the better we'll be in continuing to maintain peace and stability in the Pacific Region," he said. During the week-long ORE the two units flew more than 240 sorties.

For Maj. Benjamin Busch, 8th Operations Support Squadron chief of wing weapons and tactics, the opportunity to mission plan with ROKAF was critically important in helping the national defense for the Republic of Korea by increasing the capability of both Air Forces.

"The end state is to employ combat forces together more effectively," he said. "By training together we learn how they think and employ while at the same time they learn to mission plan. We can't individually do these missions without each other."

The other learning opportunity for the week was the medical group's mass causality exercise with the 38th FG Jan 16.

Before the exercise began 10 ROKAF and seven Wolf Pack Airmen received moulage, a process to make injuries and wounds realistic on role players acting as patients. Once role players were ready for their part they were transported to an area with the 38th FG where the mortar attack would occur.

Major Charles Flowe, 8th Medical Operations Squadron and exercise evaluation team member for the scenario, said having the attack within the ROKAF compound meant they would be the first responders on the scene providing life-saving medical care. Once patients were stabilized the ROKAF medics transported them to the American clinic for additional care that was provided by both ROKAF and USAF medical professionals.

He said the entire scenario went incredibly well not only due to the precoordination accomplished by the two organizations but by all the first responders and medics who were part of the scenario.
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"This was a great scenario as all aspects went well making it a great learning experience," he said.

He added just like with any training scenario there is room for improvement to include better communication and flow of patients through the facility.

For Major (Dr.) Greg Sweitzer, 8th MDG chief of the medical staff, the experience was better than expected, especially as it was the first opportunity for the groups to exercise a mass causality scenario.

"There is the obvious barrier of communication, but after that, the standard for medical care is unchanged," he said. "As doctors we were able to integrate medical technicians to apply splits and IVs all the same, and triage the sickest first to get medical attention."

He added he looks forward to other training opportunities with the ROKAF.

Even with the conclusion of the ORE 8th FW and 38th FG will continue to train together to become even stronger allied partners and continue to provide peace and stability to the region.