KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea --   Airmen from the 8th Maintenance Squadron perform maintenance on U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadrons at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, Dec. 2, 2016. Pilots from the 35th and 80th Fighter Squadrons take to the sky's after maintainers prepare aircraft for take off. Conducting aircraft maintenance and aircrew training is essential in a bilateral defense organization, such as Combined Forces Command, to ensure interoperability and readiness of forces.